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Summary of Texas Animal Cruelty Laws
In the state of Texas, animal cruelty laws have been in place since
1879. While earlier versions of the laws dealt with cattle and livestock, today Texas cruelty laws protect a variety of animals
from inhumane treatment. These laws define which actions are "cruel", explain what punishment or penalties can be imposed
against those whom cruelly treat animals, and describe minimum care requirements for impounded and wild animals. Under Texas law, the cruel treatment of animals is forbidden. There are a number of
actions that are considered "cruel", including:
(1) torturing an animal;
(2) failing to provide food, care or shelter;
(3) abandoning an animal;
(4) transporting or confining an animal in a cruel manner;
(5) killing, seriously injuring, or poisoning an animal;
(6) causing an animal to fight with another;
(7) using a live animal as a lure in a dog race;
(8) tripping a horse;
(9) injuring an animal belonging to another person; or
(10) seriously overworking an animal.
Generally, there are two types of laws that protect animals from
cruelty: criminal laws and civil laws. These two types of laws are similar in many ways but differ greatly in the penalties
that they impose. If prosecuted in a criminal case, a person may face penalties including a fine, loss of freedom, or both.
In Texas, animal cruelty convictions are classified as either a misdemeanor or a felony. If a person under the age of eighteen
is convicted of animal cruelty, the law also requires that he or she undergo counseling. On the other hand, if a person is
brought to court in a civil case for treating an animal cruelly, that person may have to pay damages to the animal’s
owner, or may have their own animals taken away. The court could order that the animal be auctioned, given up to an animal
rescue group, or put to sleep. Compared to other
states’ cruelty laws, Texas animal cruelty laws are unique in a couple of ways. First, Texas criminal cruelty laws only
apply to domesticated animals, such as house pets and livestock. The laws do not protect wild animals, circus animals, or
animals used in experiments. Second, Texas recently passed separate laws in 2001 that govern the keeping of dangerous wild
animals, such as lions, tigers and bears. These laws require people that own wild animals to register the animals in the county
in which they live. The laws also set forth minimum care requirements, such as enclosure or cage size, for the animals. Lastly,
Texas no longer has any specific laws that govern the treatment of circus, carnival, or zoo animals. These laws were repealed
by the Texas legislature in 1999.
Ear-Cropping/Tail-Docking
Humans can opt against cosmetic surgery, but dogs aren't so lucky. We choose for them—and we often choose painful,
unnecessary procedures such as ear-cropping and tail-docking. To give certain breeds so-called "desirable" traits, unscrupulous
veterinarians perform cruel, disfiguring surgeries that cause dogs great suffering. Dogs usually have their ears cropped when
they are just 8 to 12 weeks old. At this stage in their development, the trauma of the procedure can have a strong psychological
impact on the maturing pup. The process of taping and re-taping a pup's ears to force them to stand erect after they have
been cropped can be agonizing for the dog. Puppies are normally just a few days old when their tails are docked. They are
generally not even given any anesthetics to numb the pain of having their tails cut off. Compassionate veterinarians object
to the arbitrary removal of body parts used for communication, balance, and expression. Dogs "talk" to their human companions
and other dogs using their ears and tails. It is ridiculous to perform medically unnecessary procedures that simply perpetuate
the image that dogs are fashion accessories. This image is promoted by the American Kennel Club at its canine beauty pageants
and by breeders who believe that "their" breed will be "ruined" if it does not maintain the image handed down by parent breed
clubs decades ago. Sadly, some veterinarians still see nothing wrong with mutilating a dog whose guardian is willing to pay
for it. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) states that "ear-cropping and tail-docking are not medically indicated
nor of benefit to the patient. These procedures cause pain and distress and, as with all surgical procedures, are accompanied
by inherent risks of anesthesia, blood loss, and infection.
Dogs in Pick-Up Trucks
Dogs can easily fall, jump, or be thrown from the bed of a pick-up truck. Veterinarians and police officers report that
countless dogs have been injured or killed after they were launched from pick-up trucks. They commonly suffer from multiple
fractures, abdominal and thoracic trauma, and severe cuts and bruises. In many cases, dogs who manage to survive the fall
are hit and killed by other vehicles. Tethering dogs to the trucks can also pose a danger because dogs who jump or fall may
be hanged or dragged alongside the vehicle, causing terrible abrasions. Even if dogs do not fall, the hot metal of the
truck can burn dogs' feet. Dogs riding in the hot sun without shade may suffer from heatstroke. Several studies have indicated
that covering the bed of the pick-up with a tarpaulin or shell may expose dogs or other passengers to potentially lethal carbon
monoxide poisoning. In addition, dogs can get corneal ulcers when bugs, sand, debris, or other objects are blown into their
eyes when trucks travel at high speeds. The safest way for an animal to travel is inside the truck with his or her guardian.
If that is not possible, leave the dog at home. In fact, it is illegal to drive with a dog in the bed of a pick-up in some
cities, counties, and states. For example, Florida, New Hampshire, California, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Virginia, and
Oregon have laws prohibiting and/or restricting animals in cargo beds of trucks. Check with your local animal control to find
out what the ordinance is in your area.
Dogs in Hot Cars
Dogs can suffer and die when left inside parked cars, even on mildly warm days. On a 78-degree day, the temperature
inside a shaded car is 90 degrees, while the inside of a car parked in the sun can reach 160 degrees in minutes. Animals can
succumb to heatstroke in just 15 minutes. If you see a dog left alone in a car, take down the car's color, model, make,
and license plate number and have the owner paged inside the store, or call local humane authorities or police. Do whatever
is necessary to get the dog out of the car—his or her life may depend on it.
Australian Cattle Dog History
In the year 1840, George Elliott, in Queensland, was experimenting with Dingo-blue
merle Collie crosses. Elliott's dogs produced some excellent workers. Cattle men were impressed with the working ability of
these dogs, and purchased pups from them as they became available. Two brothers, Jack and Harry Bagust, of Canterbury in Sydney,
purchased some of these dogs and set about improving on them. Their first step was to cross a bitch with a fine imported Dalmatian
dog. This cross changed the merle to red or blue speckle. The Bagusts' purpose in this cross was to instill the love of horses
and faithfulness to master into their dogs. These characteristics were obtained and made these Bagust dogs useful for minding
the drover's horse and gear, but some of the working ability was lost. Admiring the working ability of the Black and Tan Kelpie,
which is a sheepdog, the Bagusts experimented in crossing them with their speckle dogs. The result was a compact active dog,
identical in type and build to the Dingo, only thicker set and with peculiar markings found on no other dog in the world.
The blue dogs had black patches around the eyes, with black ears and brown eyes, with a small white patch in the middle of
the forehead. The body was dark blue, evenly speckled with a lighter blue, having the same tan markings on legs, chest, and
head as the Black and Tan Kelpie. The red dogs had dark red markings instead of black, with an all-over even red speckle.
Only the pups closest to the ideal were kept, and these became the forebears of the present-day Australian Cattle
Dog. The working ability of the Bagusts' dogs was outstanding, retaining the quiet heeling ability and stamina of the Dingo
with the faithful protectiveness of the Dalmatian. As the word spread of the ability of these dogs to work cattle, they became
keenly sought after by property owners and drovers. The blue-colored dogs proved to be more popular, and became known as Blue
Heelers. These cattle dogs became indispensable to the owners of the huge cattle runs in Queensland, where they were given
the name tag of Queensland Heelers or Queensland Blue Heelers.
After the Black and Tan Kelpie cross, no other infusion
of breeds was practiced with any success. The breeders of the day concentrated on breeding for working ability, type, and
color. In 1893 Robert Kaleski took up breeding the Blue Heelers, and started showing them in 1897.
Mr. Kaleski drew
up his standard for the Cattle Dog and also for the Kelpie and Barb in 1902. He based the Cattle Dog standard around the Dingo
type, believing that this was the type naturally evolved to suit the conditions of this country. Even today the resemblance
to the Dingo is evident, except for the color of the blues and the speckle in the reds. After much opposition from careless
breeders, Kaleski finally had his standard endorsed by them and all the leading breeders of the time. He then submitted his
standard to the Cattle and Sheep Dog Club of Australia, and the original Kennel Club of New South Wales for their approval.
The standard was approved in 1903.
The breed became known as the Australian Heeler, then later the Australian Cattle
Dog, which is now accepted throughout Australia as the official name for this breed. However, even today, some people can
be heard calling them Blue Heelers or Queensland Heelers.
Be informed, research, don't just take someone's selling
point as what the breed is or isn't.
A Note on Coat Color:
An ACD coat color is
roan, speckled or mottled, red or blue. Blues have tan markings. It is Not merle, it is Not tri-colored, and there is no such
thing as a "Rare White". A mottled dog can have alot of white in a reverse Dalmation pattern, but a correct dog is never all
white. They can have body patches, but it is not desirable in the AKC show ring. They can have head patches and tail
root patches, they can have ring tails and most do have a white patch, called a Bentley Mark, on the head between the ears.
An overtanned blue will Not turn red with age, creeping
tan just gets worse with age and the tan markings, no matter what shade of tan/red/or rust, are not considered red coat. A
blue with a tan undercoat is Not a rare triple coated dog and if the tan shows thru the outer coat, it is incorrect. A red
dog that has alot of black hair in their coat is NOT a rare patriotic red, white and blue dog, it is incorrectly colored and
sometimes called a purple. That's just a sample of some of the weird statements that some have made. I'm sure all of you have
heard some amazing tales, but remember the salt.
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