TX-RPOA E-News

TX-RPOA E-News
From Responsible Pet Owners Alliance,
the reasonable voice regarding animal issues in Texas.
Responsible Pet Owners Alliance is an animal welfare organization,
not "animal rights" and, yes, there is a difference.
Permission granted to crosspost.

May 1, 2007
"May Day" is appropriate!
Responsible Pet Owners Alliance has a very diverse membership (all species)
and organized in 1991 because there was a great need for a "reasonable"
voice regarding local and state animal issues. We have incredible animal
expertise among our members which is offered as a community service within
the state of Texas.

No matter in what area our expertise lies, we have to support each other
when the occasion arises as never before in history has there been such an
all out attack on animal ownership from "animal rights" activists and
overzealous elected officials.

It was by speaking in a unified voice and using our extensive e-mail network
that we were able to get SB 411 pulled from the Senate Floor for amendments.
While we basked in that accomplishment over the weekend, the battle is far
from over. The Legislature adjourns on May 28 and you can rest then! But
for now -- back to work.

Some callers have been told legislators are working on the "dangerous dog
definition" with Rep. Dan Gattis, the author of HB 1355, the companion bill.
With all the "pitbull" media hysteria being used to get these bills passed,
the handwriting is on the wall. So we need to get the phones and faxes
ringing in Austin again!

Please call your senator and ask:
* What is the status of SB 411?
For your senator's name and contact info, go to www.capitol.state.tx.us and
type in your zip code at "Who represents me?"

Fax, phone and tell them:
(1) The penalty for a first offense should be a misdemeanor, not a felony
offense.
(2) If this bill can't be amended appropriately, it should be killed.
(3) The bill should NOT be breed specific as no breed of dog is inherently
vicious.
(4) This bill will not stop a single dog attack.
(5) The bill will kill our RPOA Rescue Program in Texas as no one will
adopt a dog (especially large dogs) with such an extreme liability.
(6) Tourists and out-of-state or local participants in Search & Rescue,
Field Trials, Tracking Tests, Hunting Tests, Herding Tests, Conformation
Shows, Earthdog Trials, Lure Coursing, Agility or Obedience Trials, and
Rescue Dog Adoption Clinics at local pet shops will all be a great risk
should an incident occur. A felony conviction ruins a person's life. It's
forever.

(7) Breed Specific Legislation is opposed by Responsible Pet Owners
Alliance of Texas, National Animal Control Association, American Veterinary
Medical Association, American Humane Association, American Society for
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, American Animal Hospital Association,
American Kennel Club, United Kennel Club, and American Dog Breeders
Association.

(8) The woman in France who recently had the face transplant was attacked
by her Labrador Retriever which was adopted from an animal shelter. All
dogs are capable of inflicting "serious bodily injury" which means "a severe
bite OR ripping and tearing of muscle. "Severe bites" are whether they
receive medical attention or not!

Keep the legislators' offices on the phone as long as possible. Don't feel
guilty for taking up their time as that's our goal. Contact your OWN
senator first but call and fax all of them if you have time. Call every day
... Aren't your dogs worth it?

Senators: All addressed
PO Box 12068
Capitol Station
Austin, TX 78711

Kevin Eltife
Phone: (512) 463-0101
Fax: (512) 475-3751
Kevin.eltife@senate.state.tx.us

Bob Deuell
Phone: (512) 463-0102
Fax: (512) 463-7202
Bob.deuell@senate.state.tx.us

Robert Nichols
Phone: (512) 463-0103
Fax: (512) 463-1526
Robert.nichols@senate.state.tx.us

Tommy Williams
Phone: (512) 463-0104
Fax: (512) 463-6373
Tommy.williams@senate.state.tx.us

Steve Ogden
Phone: (512) 463-0105
Fax: (512) 463-5713
Steve.ogden@senate.state.tx.us

Mario Gallegos
Phone: (512) 463-0106
Fax: (512) 463-0346
Mario.gallegos@senate.state.tx.us

Dan Patrick
Phone: (512) 463-0107
Fax: (512) 463-8810
Dan.Patrick@senate.state.tx.us

Florence Shapiro
Phone: (512) 463-0108
Fax: (512) 463-7579
Florence.Shapiro@senate.state.tx.us

Chris Harris
Phone: (512) 463-0109
Fax: (512) 463-7003
Chris.harris@senate.state.tx.us

Kim Brimer
Phone: (512) 463-0110
Fax: (512) 475-3745
Kim.brimer@senate.state.tx.us

Mike Jackson
Phone: (512) 463-0111
Fax: (512) 475-3727
Mike.jackson@senate.state.tx.us

Jane Nelson
Phone: (512) 463-0112
Fax: (512) 463-0923
Jane.nelson@senate.state.tx.us

Rodney Ellis
Phone: (512) 463-0113
Fax: (512) 463-0006
Rodney.Ellis@senate.state.tx.us

Kirk Watson
Phone: (512) 463-0114
Fax: (512) 463-5949
Kirk.watson@senate.state.tx.us

John Whitmire
Phone: (512) 463-0115
Fax: (512) 475-3737
John.whitmire@senate.state.tx.us

John J. Carona
Phone: (512) 463-0116
Fax: (512) 463-3135
John.carona@senate.state.tx.us

Kyle Janek
Phone: (512) 463-0117
(800) 445-2635
Fax: (512) 463-0639
Kyle.janek@senate.state.tx.us

Glenn Hegar
Phone: (512) 463-0118
Fax: (512) 475-3736
Glenn.hegar@senate.state.tx.us

Carlos Uresti
Phone: (512) 463-0119
Fax: (512) 463-1017
Carlos.uresti@senate.state.tx.us

Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa
Phone: (512) 463-0120
Fax: (512) 463-0229
Email: juan.hinojosa@senate.state.tx.us

Judith Zaffirini
Phone: (512) 463-0121
Fax: (512) 475-3738
Judith.zaffirini@senate.state.tx.us

Kip Averitt
Phone: (512) 463-0122
Fax: (512) 475-3729
Kip.averitt@senate.state.tx.us

Royce West
Phone: (512) 463-0123
Fax: (512) 463-0299
Royce.west@senate.state.tx.us

Troy Fraser
Phone: (512) 463-0124
Fax: (512) 475-3732
Troy.fraser@senate.state.tx.us

Jeff Wentworth
Phone: (512) 463-0125
Fax: (512) 463-7794
Jeff.wentworth@senate.state.tx.us

Leticia Van de Putte
Phone: (512) 463-0126
Fax: (512) 463-2114
Leticia.vandeputte@senate.state.tx.us

Eddie Lucio, Jr.
Phone: (512) 463-0127
Fax: (512) 463-0061
Eddie.Lucio@senate.state.tx.us

Robert Duncan
Phone: (512) 463-0128
(800) 322-9538
Fax: (512) 463-2424
Robert.duncan@senate.state.tx.us

Eliot Shapleigh (SB 411 author)
Phone: (512) 463-0129
Fax: (512) 463-0218
Eliot.Shapleigh@senate.state.tx.us

Craig Estes
Phone: (512) 463-0130
Fax: (512) 463-8874
Craig.estes@senate.state.tx.us

Kel Seliger
Phone: (512) 463-0131
Fax: (512) 475-3733
Kel.seliger@senate.state.tx.us

Responsible Pet Owners Alliance
900 NE Loop 410 #311-D
San Antonio, TX 78209
Phone: (210) 822-6763
Fax: (210) 822-9038
Website: www. responsiblepetowners. org
$15 Annual dues (January - December)
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send an e-mail message to rpoa @ texas.net.