Dear

Your position as a member of [insert appropriate group name here] places you in a very unique stance. As you are aware, your responsibilities bring with them the power to facilitate change. Given that you have this ability, I would like to take this opportunity to bring to your attention an important issue.

Texas has already shown its responsibility in the matter of animal cruelty by enacting anti cruelty statutes. However, these statutes often are not enough to protect the animals who serve us. Since the beginning of time, animals have served as our companions, our helpers, our protectors, and our food and clothing, while asking absolutely nothing in return. The least we owe these creatures is that we see to their well being and protect them from harm. While the current anti cruelty statutes have accomplished a great deal in securing safety for some animals, other animals are being harmed by cruel breeding practices which are sanctioned under current state law.

One example of such animals who receive no protection under current anti cruelty statutes exists in your own state - the cats born and raised at the Karma Kats Farm in Marshall, Texas. Specifically, the farm breed cats for a physical deformity that causes most or all of the front limbs to be missing or otherwise deformed. These cats cannot enjoy a normal existence. Unlike their healthy feline comrades, they cannot run, jump, play, or even walk without difficulty. To doom these animals to this type of life before they even are born, and to do this merely in the name of creating a unique and unusual animal is nothing short of cruelty. In addition, the owner of the farm feels absolutely no remorse for dooming these creatures to a sub-prime existence. In fact, she has even created a web page boasting of her "accomplishments" in breeding - on this page, she even exhibits disturbing photos of the limbless cats.

The example above illustrates that legislation needs to be enacted to discourage breeders from breeding for deformities which reduce the quality of life for the animals which result. Such legislation would not unduly restrict a responsible breeder in their trade; instead, irresponsible breeders who give no thought to the welfare of the animals they produce, such as the owner of the Karma Kats Farm, would be forced to either reevaluate their breeding practices and change for the better or to shut down completely.

While legislation is not a magic cure-all, it can at least serve as a guide for citizens to act properly or as a determent to those who do not. As I stated earlier, the current anti cruelty legislation has done well in protecting animals from those who act to harm them. Current law, however, does sanction animal cruelty in breeding practices as described earlier. Please consider supporting an addendum to current law which will help stop unscrupulous breeders from inflicting cruelty on their animals and escaping without punishment. Thank you very much for your time.

Sincerely,