Sept. 18, 2021, was purported to be the happiest day of Don and Pam Richards’ lives.
After courting for 25 years, the pair was lastly getting married. As a substitute, the date would go on to mark a horrible tragedy of their lives.
That Saturday, a hearth broke out on the Ponderosa Pet Resort in Georgetown, the place the couple had chosen to board their two 4-month-old dogs, Bunnie and Clyde, throughout their marriage ceremony weekend.
Seventy-five dogs, together with Bunnie and Clyde, have been killed within the hearth. It was later revealed that the ability was not geared up with a hearth sprinkler system or 24-hour staffing.
“They had waited for such a long time to get married and were celebrating such a joyous event, and then, you know … news that [Bunnie and Clyde] had both died in the fire,” the couple’s daughter, Robin Eissler, informed KUT. “It’s horrific.”
Courtesy of Robin Eissler
Eissler stated her dad and mom have been devastated.
“You realize what’s happened, and then you start asking the questions, ‘Why and how did this happen?'” she stated. “And then it’s incredibly frustrating when you learn that there’s no protection for the consumer when going to a dog kennel.”
Texas House Invoice 2063 seeks to treatment that.
The invoice, authored by state Rep. James Talarico, D-Spherical Rock, and state Rep. Jared Patterson, R-Frisco, would require kennels to speak in confidence to pet homeowners if a canine or cat shall be left unattended or left in a facility that doesn’t have a hearth sprinkler system.
Amenities that fail to present discover can be hit with a $500 effective for every violation and for every day the violation continues.
“The fire in Georgetown was absolutely gut-wrenching. My heart goes out to the families that lost their loving companions,” Talarico stated in an announcement. “After the fire, our community rallied together and called for action. Our legislation will ensure accidents like this never happen again in Texas.”
The laws was sponsored by state Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown, and co-sponsored by state Sen. César Blanco, D-El Paso, and state Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston.
It was handed by each the Texas House and Senate this month and now awaits Gov. Greg Abbott’s signature.
Eissler, nevertheless, stated Texas nonetheless has an extended approach to go by way of pet security.
“Unfortunately, this legislation still puts the onus on the consumer or the buyer. It doesn’t force any updates or requirements by animal care facilities,” she stated. “[But] anything is better than nothing, right? We’re happy that this piece of legislation has made it to the governor’s desk and hopefully becomes a law.”
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