The Texas Tribune reports:
The bill would have made it illegal to chain up dogs and leave them without drinkable water, adequate shade or shelter. It also called for a ban on tethering dogs with heavy chains.
Abbott said Texas already has the statutes in place to protect dogs from animal cruelty, and the penalties proposed in the bill seemed excessive. “Texas is no place for this kind of micro-managing and over-criminalization,” he said in the veto statement.
Shelby Bobosky, executive director of Texas Humane Legislation Network, a nonprofit that lobbies in support of animal rights, said the organization’s members are devastated by the veto, and the bill would have “clarified the vague language that makes the statute completely unenforceable.”
Read the full article.
Law enforcement agencies and animal advocates called for reform to a Texas law to prevent cruel and inhumane tethering. But @GovAbbott sees nothing wrong with it & doesn’t want to “over-criminalize” owners. Now a new hashtag #AbbottHatesDogs emerges. https://t.co/MjZvekp6yg
— Monique Welch (@mo_unique_) June 21, 2021
Texas, seems like your choices just got a lot clearer, if there were still any doubts. #AbbottHatesDogs #BetoLovesDogs pic.twitter.com/x4T562TpNM
— Nikki Smith (@kennahgramma) June 22, 2021
I have to hand it to the governor. “Anti-voting rights, pro-animal cruelty” is a bold re-election message. pic.twitter.com/bw6JoqC1U2
— Julián Castro (@JulianCastro) June 22, 2021
This was one of 18 dogs chained up in a yard, & he was too scared to go near anyone. Nephew Dylan coaxed him out of his hiding place so a rescue group could take him to a cozier home.
Dogs know who the good people are. #AbbottHatesDogs pic.twitter.com/mFnsezsdym— Lynne Kelly ?? (@LynneKelly) June 22, 2021
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott vetoed an anti-cruelty bill against dogs in order to maintain the high standard conservatives have set for being cartoonishly evil. #AbbottHatesDogs
— Bleeding Heart Liberal Marine (@BleedingMarine) June 22, 2021
#AbbottHatesDogs. He said it’s “micromanaging” passing a law preventing people from chaining their dogs outside all day/night without food water in the sweltering heat. Preventing animal cruelty to Abbot is micromanaging? ?Numerous vetoes that upset me! https://t.co/xiiAu0f6D5
— Dawn (@Dawn73Nigel) June 22, 2021
I’m Piper. When I was just a little dog, a mean man beat me and locked me up without food until some nicer people rescued me. Then I found my fur-ever family and now I’m almost 15. But I still don’t like mean men. #AbbottHatesDogs pic.twitter.com/idrSG6cz38
— Cindy (@CindyHoke) June 22, 2021
Rescued both these girls from chains last year in Houston and Austin. #Abbotthatesdogs pic.twitter.com/YY33oV2fRf
— Jay (@Alpha_Animosity) June 22, 2021