[Blistering Winds]

Animal cruelty vote has fur flying | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle

AUSTIN — It was a win for dogs, but a loss for horses.
The Texas House voted 136-2 Wednesday for a measure intended to strengthen the law against animal cruelty by eliminating loopholes that have hampered prosecution.
But the vote came only after backers traded away some current protections for livestock.
The Texas District and County Attorneys Association's Shannon Edmonds, who supports the bill, said those provisions haven't led to prosecutions because of an exemption for agriculture practices.
Animal advocates who opposed removing the provisions — and who had hoped to elevate protection for horses by moving them out of the livestock category — said their existence might help fend off cruel behavior.
The trade was made to win over agricultural interests, which last legislative session played a key role in bottling up a tougher animal-cruelty measure.
"On every bill, there are some things that you have to compromise on in order to make sure that the main purpose of the bill stays intact," said Rep. Beverly Woolley, R-Houston, author of House Bill 2328. "I think what we got is much more important than what we gave up."
The legislation from the beginning sought to allay agricultural interests' concerns by separating the law on livestock from that on other animals. It would enhance protections for companion animals, including making it an offense for owners to kill or seriously injure their pets in a cruel way.
The measure originally left intact current livestock protections. But an amendment by Rep. Sid Miller, a Stephenville Republican with strong agriculture roots, changed that.
His amendment struck from the list of offenses: failing unreasonably to provide shelter for livestock; tripping a horse; seriously overworking a livestock animal; and transporting or confining livestock in a cruel manner.
It left intact a proposed new cruelty offense of failing to provide water to animals.
"We are going to have animal laws that are less egregious than current law" with the amendment, Miller said.
But Susan Hendrix of the Texas Humane Legislation Network said the amendment "gutted" livestock protections.
Animal advocates, who started the session with much hope for the effort, pushed by such influential people as Houston Rockets owner Les Alexander, remained appreciative of Woolley's effort but disappointed in the day's doings.
"We're wanting to continue to work to make it fair to everyone," said Dallas lawyer Skip Trimble of the Texas Humane Legislation Network.
After another House vote, the bill will go to the Senate, where Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, Criminal Justice Committee chairman, is the sponsor.
pfikac@express-news.net

[Showrider]

Thanks for sharing.

[pocahontas]

Aaaaaaaarrrrrrggggggggg

Glad for the dogs though