Posted on 11/06/2019 12:05:11 PM PST by yesthatjallen
Texans on Tuesday voted to amend the state’s Constitution so retired law enforcement animals, like dogs or horses, can be adopted as opposed to auctioned off or euthanized.
Proposition 10, placed on the ballot with a unanimous vote from the Texas Legislature, was one of the 10 proposed amendments considered by voters. All but one passed, according to The Houston Chronicle.
The measure on law enforcement animals was overwhelming approved by 94 percent with more than 1.6 million votes.
"Police dogs develop a special bond with their handler, and — after a lifetime of public service — deserve to spend their golden years with their companion,” state Sen. Jane Nelson (R), one of the legislation’s authors, said in a statement. "These dogs should not be auctioned off as property."
State law classifies law enforcement animals as surplus government property, requiring that they be auctioned off or euthanized so government dollars aren't being used for private benefit, according to The Texas Tribune.
The federal government changed the policy back in the early 2000s to allow military service dogs to retire with their handlers or be adopted to another qualified caretaker. However, Texas officials said they were surprised to see the old-school law still on the books, so sheriffs in three counties — Collin, Ellis and Tarrant — sought to change the law.
SNIP
(Excerpt) Read more at thehill.com ...
Ping.
government property, requiring that they be auctioned off or euthanized so government dollars aren’t being used for private benefit,
Yeah SOBs but they give money to people who should not be here.
And that friends is what triggers a Conservative Woman...
I had no idea this was going on.
Good.
I voted for this measure.
In the case of a retired police dog, auctioning off the dog to a stranger can expose the police department to some serious liability. The dogs do develop an attachment to their handler.
This takes into account knowing dog behavior.
Best vote I’ve made in a long time! PING
It’s ridiculous we needed a law for this. At the same time Texas has a giant state killing asteroid heading directly for us and will doom the state to ruin. That asteroid is called property taxes and its going to collapse the state economy if things don’t change drastically and soon. Texans have been sold the bill of goods that it’s ok because we have no state income tax. This in fact is a not true and will be the states undoing. Property taxes on a middle class size home are nearly as much as a mortgage payment on a month to month basis. A 350k home will cost near $700 per month property taxes in some areas. At some point people will realize that is unsustainable and even if your home is paid off mortgage sized taxes will need to be paid as long as you own the home.
Then by all means, let’s have an income tax instead.
(which I voted in favor of never having an income tax, we’ll see if that one sticks.)
And yes, my property taxes stink, but I only paid 149K for my home back in 2003. I feel sorry for my buddy who just bought a 450K McMansion.
I’m not saying we should have voted for an income tax of course as I doubt there is any way out of this mess. My point is this is not the great deal people think it is, in fact it’s horrible if you plan to retire in Texas. Your friend with the 450k home will need to accumulate quite a large nest egg to be able to afford that home in retirement. The advantage of the income tax ,as long as its reasonable, is that you only pay high taxes when your income is high. As soon as you retire and stop bringing in the income you stop paying the high tax. High property taxes NEVER stop even when you are not bringing in a high income.
+1
You just can't give away a police or military working dog like it was shelter cockapoo. Animals like that need an owner who can keep them mindful of their proper place in the pack and keep the general public safe from that dog.
:) I understand. That’s one reason why, when the time comes, I’m considering the back woods of Tennessee. Or somewhere that’s hopefully still a free state.
I kinda feel sorry for my buddy, but his wife had to have a trophy house to show off for parties & family gatherings and stuff, and she (nurse) is the primary breadwinner. She also has no concept of the future, so it is what it is.
I also think sometimes about selling it all, buying a modest RV and living on the open road as one of the migrating nomads. I don’t think I’m that desperate yet, though.
Excellent!
WOO HOO!
I have purchased 2 bloodhounds from the State Prison System.
An addition to our constitution that you can adopt an animal is nothing more than another blur on a once great constitution.
Sure now you can adopt an animal by law but what will the adoption fees be when you can buy them now.
Just seems ridiculous to me.
RV living gets old.
This should depend on the dog judged by the trainers
Well, it beats them getting put down when they retire.
That may depend on where in Texas you live. I am in a rural county. My property taxes don’t begin to approach the size of a mortgage payment.
Of course I’d like for my property taxes to be less than that.
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