Even the animal rights activists get it right some times. Except in this case she didn't even know she did. If you read the following article you will see where Kelly Heitkamp, animal welfare activist and Longview lawyer, said "especially after the recent puppy mill bust in Marion County, where about 140 starving and neglected puppies were seized". That's right, 140 dogs were seized! So now, tell me why we need more laws that serve to only hurt good breeders when even the lawyer knows that Texas has enough guns to take peoples dogs without a new law? Just think about that a minute...

We here at PB&O take our hats off to any Representaive or Senator that will stand up and be counted! Please take a minute of your time and call, email or write a nice note to Texas State Rep. David Simpson. He deserves that much from every dog lover in the United States.

Contact Information for Rep. Simpson can be found at [Texas House Members-district 7]

Reprint from the news-journal.com, Longview TX,  [read the comments made after the article in the News-Journal]

Activist says lawmaker ‘killed’ state puppy mill bill

By Jimmy Alford - Longview News-Journal

A local animals rights activist says a Longview lawmaker killed a bill to crackdown on puppy mills.

Longview state Rep. David Simpson was the lone voice against House Bill 1451, the so-called puppy mill bill, when it went to the House floor Thursday for a final vote before being signed into law.

The bill would require dog and cat breeders who have more than 11 unspayed female animals to have annual inspections and background checks and be licensed by the state. The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation would be responsible for licensing and inspecting such commercial breeding facilities. Because of Simpson’s vote Thursday, the bill goes back into committee hearings for further discussion.

“He killed the puppy mill bill. I can’t imagine how he could do this,” said Kelly Heitkamp, animal welfare activist and Longview lawyer.

“The fact that Simpson did this and is from East Texas is embarrassing.”

Simpson said he voted against the bill because all the districts in Texas should take a look at it before it is signed. Simpson said he is vehemently against animal cruelty.

“I hate cruelty to animals. My goal was not to kill the bill, but send it back for more discussion,” Simpson said.

“The bill had a whole lot of opposition in committee, and local breeders are not for it. The Humane Society is, I believe, but this needs more discussion,” he said.

Heitkamp said Bill 1451 is an animal welfare bill that would only make puppy-mill operators treat animals more humanely.

She compared Simpson’s action against the bill to political suicide, especially after the recent puppy mill bust in Marion County, where about 140 starving and neglected puppies were seized. Simpson said the bill was about to be passed as a “local” bill, intending to affect only a certain area like Houston where it originated, but in reality affecting the whole state with new regulations.

“Have you ever been to the House floor? The local bills just fly through there, and many times before you can’t even read them,” Simpson said.

“This is a 35 page bill that will affect 150 districts. The legislators deserve to hear the bill,” he said.

Heitkamp said the bill has an uphill battle to get back to the floor to be heard again let alone be signed into law.

“Very few bills make it out again after going back,” she said.