Austin – Texas lawmakers supported an overwhelming majority attempt to protect pets from neglect, known as “Pancho Law”.
Pancho died in 2021 while under the auspices of a day -to -day care company in Dallas. His family, Paul and Maria Makkah, has spent the past four years Call to change in Texas Law They believe to save other animals.
Maria said the Senate Committee earlier this month: “My husband and I quickly learned that there is a loophole in the Texas Law allowing pet service companies to act without a punishment by simply demanding negligence,” said Maria’s Senate Committee earlier this month. “All they have to do is say,” I did not mean to kill your dog. “Regardless of the magnificence of their actions.”
Home Law 285 And “criminal neglect” adds to the Penal Code in Texas as a behavior that constitutes a criminal crime of cruelty to non -interior animals.
The author of the draft law, MP Claudia Ordis, DE Il Passo, She told her colleagues The goal is to provide families with a legal path to justice if their animal is harmful because someone failed to use reasonable care.
“Under the current law, families have limited asylum when their dogs or cats are affected by this negligence. This bill seeks to ensure accountability and prevent those who are irreplaceable from exposing other pets in the future.”
For several years, KXAN investigators have gave advice about dogs that passed away while taking care of the boarding facilities to board the boarding. In many cases, no lawsuits and a few law enforcement records for deaths are submitted, exceeding initial reports.
When Brian Ruby and Jordin Hoks lost their dog, Kali, last August, they said they quickly realized a few options.
“You know, what can we do? We can go to the Civil Court,” said Ruby.
In August 2024, the couple planned their wedding and subsequent honeymoon. They dropped Kali to stay at the Austin climbing facility in the Austin region for a part of that time. The facility’s employees were supposed to drop Kali in the house of Jordin’s father, as she would remain for the rest of their journey, but never arrived at home.
On the first day of the honeymoon, newly married married couples alerted them that Kali had been transferred to an emergency veterinarian. KXAN investigators reviewed the records of this medical provider, and they revealed “emancipated in the day care car”. She died and another 3 -year -old dog.
“I felt this feeling, she was right all the time. She was right to be afraid of the car.”
“I think the most shocking part of all this process was just the lack of regulations at the state of Texas [for the pet services industry]”
Kxan arrived at the facility in the Kali case, but she refused to comment.
“We were in the lobby of this hotel, which we just married the day before, and to get this, like this overwhelming depression …” Brian was late. “Sadness of the waves continued,” he said.
The couple began to communicate with other families who lost dogs and cats while caring for pet service companies – such as Katelyn Rohde.
Rohdy Roland, who refers to her as “ridiculous goat”, lost a dog care facility in Texas. Soon after, a Non -profit in the name of RolandIn order to raise awareness and push for change. I worked with other experts and preachers Spread evidence to help other pet ownersLike a dog care evaluation guide and Roland & Friends guide to choose and find dog coach.
She said: “All this information is not intended to be like black and white.” This is what you do. ”
The ridiculous Roland O goat crew also launched a survey of pet owners, which showed that 96 % of the respondents will be supportive or strongly support dog care facilities in Texas that adopt more safety, communications and transparency standards through organization, voluntary guarantees or other measures.
“The 1 % best is 1 % better when you start than nothing,” said Rohdy.
She said that the Pancho law is the first step.
Since HB 285 worked through the legislative process, some people raised concerns about an exception in the law of veterinarians. A item states that these medical professionals have a defense of the prosecution due to the alleged behavior that occurs while performing their duties as licensed veterinarians or as a person who helps the veterinarian.
some General commentators pushed this ruling They asked legislators to keep medical professionals for the same standards of others under the law.
Ashley Morgan, with the Texas Himanian Legislation Network, dealt with these concerns about her testimony before the Senate Committee, noting that veterinarians and doctors are still able to prosecute, especially because of knowledge or deliberate harm.
The legislators have told that she is seeing the need for the Pancho law regularly in its work as a lawyer, when families come to her to help.
“I often do not have to tell these people,” there is nothing I can do for you, “Morgan witnessed.
KXAN has reached more than 20 business owners and pet service managers in the Austin region to learn what they feel about the potential change, if the Ruler HB 285 signs the law.
The responses were mixed: some high fears. One of them said, in part, “While I am against any form of cruelty to animals, at the nominal value, the threat of a criminal claim because of its operation of the dog house salon or care is no less out of obscene and will be a great deterrent to these companies to stay open.” They described thousands of owners of these facilities, “who often work 60 hours a week, others are just a bulldozer, and most of them depend on their business income to live.”
Several business operators told KXAN that they supported the law and welcomed more organization in the industry to protect pets. One of them said, in part, “We hope this bill will help retain” bad apples “in the pet care industry – as well as individuals – responsible for abuse and behavior in general. Animal care is a great responsibility and must be treated in this way.
Some of the facilities operators were not aware of the proposal and said they would search for it; Others refused to comment.
HB 285 approved the House of Representatives with 125 votes in favor and 5 votes against. The Senate has gone unanimously. The draft law was sent to the ruler Greg Abbott to consider it. If he registered it in the law, it will be valid in September.