Houston Wants to Take Away Your Dog—Need Help Today!
The City of Houston is considering an Ordinance on 3/12/14 that would allow the government to own your dog if it is accidentally lost and not found within a brief hold period. They are trying to take valuable property away without any due process, not to mention that dogs are beloved family members.
The dog pictured accidentally got out and was impounded by BARC. The owner went to the shelter within 24 hours of Monte arriving but the facility was closed to the public during normal business hours (shelter open only limited time for owners to reclaim pet). Monte's owner was told to look on Pet Harbor for her family pet which she dutifully did. BARC listed Monte by the wrong breed so the owner could not find him.
The Greater Houston German Shepherd Dog Rescue had the dog for a day and a half when the owner learned her dog really had been at BARC. The rescue refused to return Monte regardless that all expenses were offered. Monte is an 8 year old dog that had lived with his family since he was 8 weeks old. This law would allow dogs like Monte to be wrenched from their families forever.
Letters/Emails need to be sent today! There will be a VOTE on Wednesday morning, March 12, 2014.
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Email and Fax your letters if possible. Always include a subject line. If you know your Council Member, you can address your letter to him/her and the other members.
City Council Email Addresses:
districta@houstontx.gov; districtb@houstontx.gov; districtc@houstontx.gov; districtd@houstontx.gov; districte@houstontx.gov; districtf@houstontx.gov; districtg@houstontx.gov; districth@houstontx.gov; districti@houstontx.gov; districtj@houstontx.gov; districtk@houstontx.gov; atlarge1@houstontx.gov; atlarge2@houstontx.gov; atlarge3@houstontx.gov; atlarge4@houstontx.gov; atlarge5@houstontx.gov; mayor@houstontx.gov; scheduling@houstontx.gov
City Council Fax Numbers:
832 393 3336, 832 393 3302, 832 393 3291, 832.393.3224, 832.393.3313, 832.393.3302, 832.393.3279, 832.395.9571, 832.395.9426, 832.395.9423, 832.395.9410, 832.393.3251, 832.393.3327
Sample Letter:
Hon. Houston City Council:
RE: Opposed to City Owning Our Dogs after Hold Period (Sec. 6-102b)
I am opposed to Section 6-102b of the proposed Animal Ordinances. The City has proposed to own our dogs after a short impoundment period. The new ordinance provides that “title and sole ownership of the dog transfers to BARC, the dog becomes the sole property of BARC, and becomes subject to disposition as BARC deems appropriate.” Section 6-102(b).
Someone could be on a short vacation and return to find out that their pet sitter (or veterinarian, kennel, friend or family member) accidentally lost their dog and they don't own it anymore.
Some rescue organizations want to own lost pets so that they do not have to be inconvenienced by owners who would like to reclaim pets. However, what better result for a lost dog than to go back to their family who has been desperately searching for them.
If a rescue organization returns someone's dog, then they can save one that has no family. That benefits BARC because two dogs are saved instead of just one.
We have Constitutional rights in our property and that includes our dogs. The City is attempting to do away with property rights without due process which is not only unfair, it is a violation of our property rights.
For these reasons, I oppose this section of the proposed ordinance changes and request that the ordinance be reworded so that dog owners do not lose rights in their pets. This is a very harsh result for someone's dog accidentally getting out. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Your Name & Address
