Animal News

Fantastic new animal law means no more dogs on chains in Texas

This is now illegal.

Photo courtesy of SPCA

A new law goes into effect across Texas on January 18, which will help animals who unfortunately spend their lives outdoors.

Called the Safe Outdoors Dog Act, it lays down basic safeguards for outdoor dogs, as follows:

Defines "adequate shelter" to protect dogs from extreme temperatures, inclement weather, and standing water. Previously, there was no definition for shelter, and dogs that were tethered could (and did) die from exposure.
Requires access to drinkable water. Before the Safe Outdoor Dogs Act, state law did not include this vital requirement.
Requires safe restraints. The Safe Outdoor Dogs Act bans the use of chains. Other tethering options such as cable tie-outs can be used, as long as they are correctly attached to a collar or harness.
Removes the 24-hour waiting period previously required that prevented animal control or law enforcement officers from taking immediate action when they found a freezing or suffering dog.

Unfortunately, the Safe Outdoors Dog Act does not prevent owners from tethering dogs or from keeping them outdoors. But it does define base-level requirements to ensure the dog gets adequate shelter and water, and limits the types of restraints allowed to be used.

The Safe Outdoors Dog Act was made possible due to the work of Texas Humane Legislation Network (THLN), and signed into law on October 25, 2021, after what THLN calls "the most contentious Texas legislative session in memory." The organization has been working on this legislation for six years, during which it was targeted by an extremist lawmaker and unexpectedly vetoed.

Of all the changes, the organization views the removal of the 24-hour warning period as the most significant change, allowing animal control officers to take immediate action for tethered dogs in distress.

The other big win is the banning of chains, which can tangle, rust, and break, and often cause pain and injury.

The Safe Outdoor Dogs Act does not apply to dogs who are:

Attached to a cable-tie out or trolley system
Camping or using other public recreational areas
Herding livestock or assisting with farming tasks
Hunting or participating in field trials
In an open-air truck bed while the owner completes a temporary task

To encourage dog owners to get on board, THLN has created the following list of nonprofits and civic groups who will help:

DALLAS/FORT WORTH: SPCA of Texas’ Russell H. Perry Pet Resource Center provides temporary support to pet owners in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex who are experiencing financial hardship and are at risk of having to surrender their pets. Contact: helpmypet@spca.org

NORTH TEXAS: The Love Pit is a Dallas-based nonprofit that improves the quality of life for pit bull-type dogs through rescue, education, and outreach in the DFW area. Contact: info@thelovepitrescue.org

BASTROP & TRAVIS COUNTIES: Dejando Huella ATX – donates dog houses & specializes in outreach to Spanish-speaking dog owners. Contact: dejando.huella.atx@gmail.com

CORPUS CHRISTI: People Assisting Animal Control organizes pet wellness & educational events, distributing cable tie-outs. Contact: cmmutt70@aol.com

MCLENNAN COUNTY: Cribs For Canines provides dog houses to under-resourced dog owners. Contact: Cribs for Canines (cribs4canines.com)

MIDLAND: Fix West Texas donates dog houses and other pet supplies to under-resourced dog owners. Contact: karen@fixwesttexas.org

TRAVIS COUNTY: The City of Austin Fencing Assistance Program donates fence material to under-resourced dog owners in Travis County. The city also donates dog houses to qualified residents. Contact: Amber.Harvey@austintexas.gov

TYLER: The SPCA of East Texas donates doghouses and other pet supplies to under-resourced dog owners. Contact: spca@spcaeasttx.com

VICTORIA: South Texas Tales – donates dog houses and other resources to under-resourced dog owners. Contact: southtexastails@yahoo.com

WICHITA FALLS: Chain Off Wichita Falls – donates fencing materials and labor for under-resourced dog owners. Contact: chainoffwf@gmail.com

WILLIAMSON COUNTY: Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter – serving Round Rock, Cedar Park, Leander, Hutto, and rural Williamson County. Donates dog houses and other items to under-resourced dog owners. Contact: wcras@wilco.org

Fences for Fido also provides support and mentorship to groups dedicated to getting dogs off chains. Contact: katrina.FencesForFido@gmail.com

pets

Politics News

Dallas narrows down field for new city manager to 4 candidates

Photo by R K on Unsplash

This is an Dallasite's sign to launch that small business they've been dreaming of.

After six months without a city manager, the city of Dallas has narrowed down the field of replacements to four semifinalists including one serving as current interim city manager, plus candidates from Fort Worth, Michigan, and Georgia.

Dallas has been without a city manager since May, when previous city manager T.C. Broadnax left to take a job with the city of Austin. Since that time, Broadnax's former chief of staff Kimberly Bizor Tolbert has served as interim city manager.

The city retained Baker Tilly, a consulting firm, to recruit and compile candidates. (Baker Tilly famously erred in the brochure it created for the position by featuring a photo of the Houston skyline instead of Dallas; they've since replaced it with Dallas.)

A spokesperson for Baker Tilly did not respond to inquiries but according to D Magazine, an email listing the candidates has been sent to the Dallas City Council.

The semifinalists include:

Kimberly Bizor Tolbert, Dallas’ current interim city manager
William Johnson, an assistant city manager in Fort Worth
Mark Washington, the city manager of Grand Rapids, Michigan
Zachary Williams, a county chief operating officer in Georgia

All have more than 25 years' of public administration experience and have worked in similar capacities in their respective cities.

Before working in Fort Worth, Johnson was Baltimore’s transportation director and Atlanta’s deputy chief operating officer and public works commissioner.

Washington worked in Fort Worth and Austin before becoming Grand Rapids’ city manager.

Williams has mostly worked in Georgia at the county level, including serving as county manager in Fulton County and chief operating officer in DeKalb County.

Tolbert began working for the city in 1998, first as the city manager’s assistant and later in the aviation department. Broadnax hired her as his chief of staff in 2017.

Unlike the Mayor and the Dallas City Council, the city manager position in Dallas is not elected but is instead appointed by the city council, and is tasked with executing policies, overseeing the annual budget, and managing staff at city hall.

The council’s Ad Hoc Committee will choose finalists, introduce them to the public, and make an offer in early 2025.

politics