Find out what local laws and ordinances apply to your pets

Being a responsible pet owner also means being a law-abiding citizen. Texas has many local and State ordinances pertaining to pet ownership, and it pays to know which ones apply to you. Violation of pet ordinances can result in fines or worse – being required to surrender your pet to a shelter, and you cannot claim ignorance as a legal defense.

To help you stay on the right side of the law, here is a handy reference guide that makes it easy to know where to find out the laws in your area – click here to read it and know your legal obligations!

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Different ways of contributing to animal shelters and rescue groups

The latest Examiner.com article by Companions For Life President Rebecca Poling gives peoples various options for donating to animal shelters and rescue groups without necessarily having to write a check.

In these tight times, cash donations are down as people tighten their belts – but that doesn’t mean you have to give up on giving altogether! Volunteer time and in-kind donations are just as valuable as cash, and both businesses and individuals can donate services such as printing, copying, cleaning, grooming, vet care and more. Remembering your local charity in your Will is another way of giving, and of course anyone who is lucky enough to work for a company that matches donations should absolutely take advantage of that “free money”!

As Rebecca points out, “No matter how you donate, the important thing is that you contribute what you can.” We’re all in this together!!

• Read the full article here.
• Other Examiner articles by Rebecca.

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Free or low-cost spay/neuter options in North Texas

We all know that when finances are tight, people put off important-but-not-urgent-things, like servicing the car, getting that dental checkup – or having the family pet spayed or neutered. We do this even though we know it’s false economy – that the cost of fixing an overheated radiator, or getting a filling, or dealing with an unwanted litter is always more than what it would have cost to prevent the situation in the first place. But money’s tight, so we gamble that the unthinkable won’t happen.

Well we can do things to mitigate risk, like checking our oil before we take the car out, or being extra diligent about flossing, but it’s a lot harder to stop a couple of unfixed animals from getting it on while your back is turned.

To make it easier for pet owners in North Texas to be responsible in spite of tough times Rebecca Poling, President of Companions For Life, wrote this article for the Examiner outlining where people can find free or low-cost spay/neuter programs in the area. Dallas city residents in particular are required to fix their pet by law, so this will help them stay compliant as well.

Many of the organizations she references also offer low-cost vaccinations, micro chipping and wellness services although you may need to call ahead and inquire about any additional charges such as in-heat or pregnancy termination charges or pain medications.

Please note that Texas State law requires all animals to be vaccinated for rabies. A rabies vaccination will be given to any animal not already vaccinated. The rabies vaccination may cost up to $20 over and above the cost of any spay/neuter or wellness services. 

For more info: Already spayed or neutered your pet but need help with the cost of vaccinations?  Animal Allies of Texas is holding a low-cost vaccination clinic July 25th.  Or check out this article on low-cost clinics open year-round.   Visit these links to find out what vaccinations are recommended for your cat, or for your dog.

So now there’s no excuse – you can be a responsible pet owner even if your wallet is a little lean, and by preventing unwanted litters, you’re saving lives!

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Responsible Pet Owners Alliance – not quite what it appears to be.

Please read this statement below, from the Texas Humane Legislation Network and HSUS.and be aware of the RPOA’s real agenda. Education is the only real defense against propaganda.

Responsible Pet Owners Alliance (RPOA) is a front group for commercial dog and cat breeding facilities and consistently fights any legislation or proposed city ordinances that would implement spay/neuter programs or regulate large-scale commercial breeding operations in any way.  

RPOA argues that any restrictions on commercial breeding could actually result in a shortage of dogs and cats.  Who are they kidding?  More than 700,000 companion animals were destroyed in animal control facilities and humane societies in Texas last year alone simply because there were no homes for them.  Meanwhile, commercial breeders continue to flood the pet market with thousands more puppies and kittens, exacerbating the pet overpopulation problem even more.  With no measures taken, there is little chance that we can even reduce the euthanasia numbers in our Texas shelters, let alone move toward no-kill city-run facilities for decades to come. 

RPOA is part of the problem, not part of the solution.  They are fighting to keep the floodgates of pet overpopulation open while animal welfare agencies and animal control officers try in vain to control the rising tides.

RPOA members frequently malign legitimate animal protection organizations such as the Texas Humane Legislation Network (THLN), The Humane Society of the United States (The HSUS) and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), alleging them to be “animal rights extremists,” and peddling an assortment of urban myths in an attempt to destroy the reputations of those who are effectively exposing RPOA for what they are. Please know that RPOA’s baseless allegations and fear-mongering tactics are motivated by the financial greed of the puppy mill and pet trade industry.

In truth, Texas Humane Legislation Network (THLN), the HSUS and the ASPCA are mainstream organizations whose efforts to protect animals from cruelty are supported by law enforcement officials and criminal prosecutors throughout the state. 

Another frequent RPOA talking point alleges that The HSUS wants to “end pet ownership” and “cause the extinction of animals.”  Puppy millers, cockfighters, dogfighters, canned hunters and other animal abusers use this same false accusation repeatedly as an attempt to deflect attention from their own actions.  The HSUS’s long history of promoting humane care for our animal companions — as well as celebrating the joy that they bring to our lives — stands on its own merits.

That every companion animal should live a long and happy life in a good home is the true objective of the Texas Humane Legislation Network, The HSUS and the ASPCA.

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Pet Watch Summit July 21 – helping lost and found pets in your neighborhood

Sharing information on this important event to help reunite lost and found pets with their families!

Event: Animal Alert! – Pet Watch Summit
A meeting of Those Interested in Helping with Lost and Found Pets in Their Neighborhood.

Purpose:  To meet with other neighborhood Animal Alert! / Pet Watch groups OR those interested in establishing one for their neighborhood.  We are working hard to help establish an Animal Alert! or Pet Watch Program in every neighborhood across Dallas.  

Goal:  To be able to LINK to all the neighborhoods on a timely basis in the event of a lost or found pet. 

Agenda:
*  How to establish a Program for your neighborhood.
*  How to set up a phone and/or computer system to help get the word out fast.
*  How to LINK to the other established neighborhoods.
*  How to handle volunteer burn out.
*  Fund raising ideas.

Plan:  We try to have a Pet Summit about every 6 months in order to help establish Pet Programs in new neighborhoods and LINK them all together across Dallas.  Together we can help unite a lost pet to its family.  There is nothing better than the SMILE of a happy reunion!

Date/Time:  Tuesday-  July 21   7:00 – 9:00 PM  Doors open at 6:30 PM.  Come early to meet and greet before the 7:00 meeting.

Location:  We will be meeting in the For the Love of the Lake office in Casa Linda Shopping Center-  at the intersection of Garland Road and Buckner Boulevard.  This is under Another Broken Egg restaurant.

HELP:  Please pass this information on to anyone you know that might be interested in helping with this project.  Does your neighborhood have an Association or a Board?   Is there anyone at your vet that might be interested in receiving emails about the Pet Summits?  If so, please pass this information on to them.

For More Information:

PetSummit@aol.com   (214) 328-0508  Andie Comini

info@lfhanimalalert.org  Maeleska Fletes

Thank you for caring and helping!

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Humane education resources for summer school or camp

Are you teaching at summer school or camp? If so, why not take the opportunity to help teach children compassion and keep them interested in animals?

Companions for Life is committed to humane education – they run a variety of humane education programs and also have resources and lesson plans designed specifically for teachers at on their Teachers Only page.

The ASPCA Humane Educators have prepared some fun activities, tips and resources too, which you can access on their site.

Compassionate kids will grow into respectful and compassionate adults, so inspire a kid today!

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