Texas Humane Legislation Network - Austin, TX

Established in 1975, one organization is a grassroots, non-profit fighting for the enactment and enforcement of laws to protect animals from abuse and neglect. (Source: DFW Wildlife Coalition).

The Texas Humane Legislation Network (THLN), right now is fighting for numerous bills to better creatures' lives to be approved such as protecting man's best friend from the bitter cold, stopping puppy mill cruelty, and state regulation of commercial dog breeders, among other battles.

"We want to increase our membership and fundraising base 100-fold to become more effective and influential with the state legislature in passing animal protection bills," states Cile Holloway, president of the agency. "For the 2011 legislative session, we're pursuing a Puppy Mill bill that will regulate large scale commercial dog breeders."

The group is also working on strengthening the existing cockfighting bill so that anyone involved in such an operation will be held responsible and Holloway says the Network will continue to work to keep horse slaughter for human consumption illegal in Texas.

"Community support for us has been excellent," she writes. "In the last year, we've started ten regional state chapters in Texas from South Texas to Wichita Falls and we have three additional areas in Texas wanting to start up a chapter."

THLN (thln.com) is the only state-wide animal welfare organization that dedicates the majority of its funds to animal protection legislation, according to Holloway.

"I've volunteered with THLN for more than 30 years so you can imagine the growth changes the organization has experienced," she wrote. "We went from a handful of volunteers contacting legislators urging their support for issues, to a nationally recognized state-wide grassroots organization with a full-time executive director and a professional lobby team during the legislation session."

THLN has had several other states contact them asking for assistance to start a similar network in their state and Holloway has urged them to be passionate but reasonable about the type of animal laws they pursue in their area.

"You have to recognize your boundaries and know the opposition," she explained. "Texas is not the state of California. You have to work hard, spread the word daily to increase your numbers, influence your lawmakers, and know that protecting animals through legislation is commendable and absolutely necessary."

People like Gigi Ray, an advisory board member involved with the organization for 14 years, started helping animals when she was a child and has never stopped. She believes that animals do not suffer any less just because they don't have the words to express when they are hurting.

In the coldest winter in 30 years, concerned citizens are citing an alarming number of dogs being kept outdoors on chains or in pens with little or no protection from the extremities of weather, according to a current petition dated Jan. 11 that THLN is gathering signatures for. The Network urges citizens to report such conditions observed to local animal welfare agencies, animal control officers, police or county sheriff's department if outside city limits.

The Texas animal cruelty statute makes it a Class A misdemeanor to fail to provide an animal with necessary food, water, care, or shelter.

"If state laws are not being enforced are not being enforced in your city or county, contact your mayor, city council, or county commissioners' court with specific examples along with detailed information and ask that those laws be enforced," states THLN's website. "Puppy mills in Texas are at an all-time high."

To make a donation toward the campaign to stop such business, access http://www.thln.org/?pageID=C5841B87-3048-7B4D-7B634387AA5E51C0 online.

Two legislative sessions ago THLN was successful in getting a law passed that limited the means of euthanasia to sodium pentobarbital or commercially compressed carbon monoxide. According to greatergood.com, many states are still using inhumane gas chambers to euthanize shelter pets.

From Jan. 1-Dec. 31 if you fly Southwest Airlines, you can donate your unused miles or passes to establish regional THLN chapters throughout Texas.

Last year was a devastating loss for animal welfare in the legislative session for 2009, according to literature. THLN officials state that there are more people who oppose puppy mills than there are who make their living from the practice.

To make a donation by mail to the Network, send a check or money order to: THLN, Box 685283, Austin, TX 78768-5283.

For more information, call 1-888-548-6263.