El Paso, Texas - Stupid Pet Laws

[flyndog]

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.

December 9, 2005

El Paso pet lovers need your help. Title 7 Animal Code Revisions will be voted on next Tuesday, December 13th. After two years in idle, all of a sudden the proposal is on a fast track. City officials probably assume that most pet owners are too busy with the holiday season to notice! As usual the “Animal Rights” activists are pushing their agenda to end all use, breeding and ownership of animals for any reason – including pet ownership. El Paso is a hotbed of animal rights extremists, including “Pets Alive” and Steve Best, the El Paso University professor who openly supports Animal Liberation Front (ALF).

Responsible Pet Owners Alliance opposes provisions for: Litter Permits, Canvassing pet owners’ private homes, and Mandatory Microchips. Microchips should be encouraged but mandatory microchips will be discriminatory to low income pet owners. If the pet owner can’t afford the microchip, will Animal Control confiscate and kill their pet? The Litter Permit gives animal control permission to inspect your premises at any time without a search warrant. Instead of buying a Litter Permit, many pet owners will just tell Animal Control to take the dog when they have a litter. Canvassing was discontinued in San Mateo County, CA, in 1992 because “it was not cost effective and didn’t promote any goodwill whatsoever.”

These proposals will only result in more animals killed and exacerbate
animal problems, which are loose animals in low income neighborhoods and feral cats. RPOA sent information to the El Paso Times, mayor, city manager and city council members and included a 5 page document of Solutions to Animal Problems without a legislative component. Please contact the city officials below to express opposition to this proposal:

El Paso City Officials:
2 Civic Center Plaza 10th Floor
El Paso, TX 79901

Mayor John Cook
Fax: (915) 541-4501
mayor@elpasotexas.gov

City Manager Joyce A. Wilson
Fax: (915) 541-4866
citymanager@elpasotexas.gov

Councilwoman Ann Morgan Lilly
Fax: (915) 541-4380
District#1@elpasotexas.gov

Councilwoman Susie Byrd
Fax: (915) 541-4348
District#2@elpasotexas.gov

Councilman Alejandro Lozano
Fax: (915) 541-4258
District#3@elpasotexas.gov

Councilwoman Melina Castro
Fax: (915) 541-4213
District#4@elpasotexas.gov

Councilman Presi Ortega
Fax: (915) 541-4360
District#5@elpasotexas.gov

Councilman Eddie Holquin, Jr.
Fax: (915) 541- 4262
District#6@elpasotexas.gov

Councilman Steve Ortega
Fax: (915) 541-4134
District#7@elpasotexas.gov

Councilman Beta O’Rourke
Fax: (915) 541-4300
District#8@elpasotexas.gov