(Check out the Fox4 interview with Just Save the Dog Advisory Board member, law professor and attorney, Don Feare, in the attached link) 

The GOOD news:

The Dallas Police Department and the Dallas County DA finally got together and are charging Sebastian Acosta with a ‘second’ felony charge. Thanks to your signatures, letters and phone calls, we are seeing a more serious and professional tone emerge from the DA.

Now for the UNSETTLING news:

An analysis of Bail Stipulations issued by judges in eighteen FELONY Animal Abuses cases between 2019-2020 show that NO stipulation has ever been issued prohibiting a suspect from contact with an animal. Not.One.

COINCIDENTALLY: 

There is a Bill (House Bill 4282), pending in the Texas Legislature (currently in the Criminal Jurisprudence Committee) that would make it a criminal offense to own or be in possession of an animal if you have been convicted of multiple offenses involving animal cruelty.

The language does not go far enough. There should be an automatic prohibition on contact with animals, and on living in a domicile where animals also live, for ALL felony animal cruelty charges.

We encourage you to contact the members of the Criminal Jurisprudence Committee to encourage them to make this bill much stronger.

Rep. Nicole Collier. (512) 463-0716
Rep Keith Bell. (512) 463-0458
Rep Jeff Cason (512) 463-0522
Rep David Cook (512) 463-0374
Rep Jasmine Crockett (512) 463-0586 (represents East Dallas)
Rep Gina Hinojosa (512) 463-0668
Rep Ann Johnson. (512) 463-0389
Rep Andrew S Murr (512) 463-0536
Rep Cody Vasut (512) 257-0564