Texas Companion Animal Protection Act Could Save Thousands at Shelters

Tens of thousands of cats and dogs are put to sleep every year in parts of Texas like Houston, San Antonio and Dallas. But a new bill introduced by Representative Jessica Farrar could save a large percentage of those animals.

The Texas Companion Animal Protection Act (H.B. 3450), or CAPA, would completely reform how some shelters in Texas operate. Laws like CAPA have been passed — and work beautifully — in other states including California and Delaware. H.B. 3450 is modeled after the Companion Animal Protection Act from the No Kill Advocacy Center.

No Kill Houston, a group pushing hard for the legislation to pass, holds high standards for area shelters but many fall short of those expectations. The group would like to see every shelter actively work in the best interest of animals. The group is dedicated to making no-kill shelters the only kind of animal shelter.

CAPA would outlaw certain methods of killing animals, including the gas chamber and intracardial injection (also known as the "heart stick"). The controversial intracardial injection would only be allowed in extenuating circumstances.

CAPA would also prohibit shelters from killing animals because of discriminatory factors such as age and breed. Furthermore, CAPA would force shelters to work with rescue groups in order to place dogs and cats. No longer would animals be euthanized while empty cages remain empty, nor would shelters be allowed to sell animals to laboratories for research.

No Kill Houston points out that CAPA not only will save thousands of cats and dogs every year, but could also save taxpayers a large amount of money in animal control costs. Laws like CAPA have saved taxpayers nearly $500,000 a year in San Francisco.

CAPA helps people, too. Unregulated shelters don't have to attempt to find owners of potentially lost pets or report how many animals are killed. CAPA will change these policies and in turn, help reunite lost pets and prevent the emotional distress of shelter workers who must euthanize healthy adoptable animals when alternative options are available.

While it seems obvious CAPA is great for animals and people, the bill isn't without opposition. Those against reform are largely unregulated shelters who don't want all the rules.

The bill has been sent to the Texas House of Representatives Public Health Committee for voting, and No Kill Houston is hoping animal lovers will help pass the bill by contacting the committee and voicing support for CAPA.

The group has set up a petition on Change.org, making it quick and easy to send a letter of support for this life-saving proposal.

Photo credit: touterse