Speak Out: Legislation
What do you think about how the reptile community handled the legislative attack on ownership? Do you think the "other side" made any valid points? Do we not police ourselves well enough? What do you propose to stop the release of non-native species into the U.S. ecosystem? Obviously you want to keep your animals, but do you have any solutions to offer to alleviate the complaints? If you've seen this attack once, you'll see it again.
16 opinions on this subject.
Enter your opinion at the bottom of this page.
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CanadianSnakeMan on 2009-10-08
Hi all,
I posted a while ago that I was trying to change the laws in my area (which ban the posession of ALL reptiles). The help I recieved from this forum on my last post was invaluable, appreciated and very well recieved. I have a meeting coming up with town council soon and I am drafting a research paper to present to them.
I am looking for reliable references such as statistics of fatalites from venomous snakebite in the US, frequency of Salmonella infections among reptile owners and statistics with regards to annual rabies infections, parasitic infections and other cases of diseases from other domestic animals.
The paper is coming along well but I just need a few more bits of information to tie it up. It is my intent to present an honest assessment of the risks associated with keeping reptiles, and then compare it with the risks of keeping other domestic animals (which my research shows is far more significant).
I would prefer if you could point me in the direction of very relaible government or university sources. I have already looked at info from the CDC, Health Canada, American Veterinary Medical Assoc, NIH and others.
Thank you all! With your help we can educate, influence and change this region for the better!
Luke
CanadianSnakeMan on 2009-09-16
PLEASE HELP!!
My township has an all-out restriction on all reptiles. The law was drafted by an ignorant and closed-minded By-law officer a few years ago. Because of this law, I am keeping my pets illegally, risking heavy fines and having my house searched (if someone complains).
Soon, I will be meeting this By-law officer and the town council to petition to have the law changed. I would appreciate any advice you may have or help you may be able to provide.
You can contact me at halstead.lm@forces.gc.ca (work)
sky_jumper999@hotmail.com (personal)
or 613-732-3904
I think I'll need a lot of help to convince these people to do what's right!
Thank you all
Luke
bagbyherper on 2009-08-16
I live in AZ and all non-native venomous are illegal. The only venomous I have right now are an oddly patterned atrox and a hopi. I feel that AZ's law against venomous should be changed. We should be able to keep non native venomous. I think its stupid that we can't keep them.
filmguy on 2009-08-10
Hi All-
I am researching a documentary film about people who
own exotic (non domestic) animals. Specifically we are
exploring the emotional connection between exotics and
their owners. The research has been going well and I’m
meeting some amazingly passionate and fascinating
people and their exotics. I realize that this is a huge,
sometimes controversial topic and can be very
emotionally/politically charged. And no, as I am
frequently asked, I am not with PETA or some faction of
the government. I’m just a guy interested in learning more
about these often unique animals and the equally unique
people who own them. I’d love to find a great venomous
snake story. If you own a venomous snake because you
feel there’s no more rewarding experience in terms of a
human/animal relationship or experience, I’d love to talk
with you and tell you more. Please contact me via the
email address tagged here. Thanks. Andrew Walton –
adash1walton@mac.com
Anonymous on 2009-07-15
I do believe in our right to own these animals but also believe that in doing so we take on the responsibility of keeping ourselves our animals and the public safe.I know that accidents happen and that keeping hots especially exotic hots comes with great risk.Legislation banning hots and large constrictors is definatly coming.When I see videos of people freehandling puff adders venomoid or not it makes me kringe.My rights to keep what I want rest in the hands of an IDIOT!People need to think before they do this sort of thing,do you love your snakes?Or do you love the attention you get from people who don't like snakes or think you are crazy?I will always be glad that I lived in an era where ownership of these great beast was LEGAL.We're gonna lose our rights though,Its just a matter of time.
CerastesRuber on 2009-07-08
straight up, i think if u r gunna take away the right to own and even import and export all non native species that is not "freedom", what america is supposedly known for.. i live in CA we already cant own non native venomous species which is rediculous.. but doing that to the entire counrty is way out of line.........
MeToo on 2009-06-28
A gun can not accidentally get loose and crawl off under
its own steam and bite an unsuspecting person. Some
person must actually propel the motion to make a gun
fire. Some person must actually take the gun to the place
where it will be fired by the action of a human. A
venomous snake could potentially escape, all on its own
(although through the agency of a careless keeper), and
under its own steam move itself into the vicinity of the
unsuspecting person, and (for whatever reason) bite them
either maim or kill. It won't matter a bit to the bitten
person that the snake was only being defensive, scared,
whatever, they will be just as dead. And other than native
species (which are not as lethal as most imported species,
generally speaking), that victim need never have
encountered the snake-except through the agency of
some person who was determined to "keep" (not very
securely, it might be said) an exotic venomous snake.
And before we start with the dog/horse/etc statistics,
remember-these animals have been kept very much
longer, and by exponentially more people, than venomous
snakes, especially exotic ones. I wouldn't like to think of
the statistics if a comparable number of people kept
venomous imported snakes for a comparable span of time
in this country. And it's a lot easier to avoid an encounter
with a dog or horse, than with a snake-you'll never reach
your hand into the flower bed to pull some weeds and
accidentally encounter a horse, which will undoubtedly
bite you, which bite (particularly if it's an escaped exotic
snake) will undoubtedly kill you.
Anonymous on 2009-06-24
jforceno1 on 2009-06-09
If Done right and carefully (100 % focused) then it can be done with out being bitten.
steff on 2009-06-02
I find that free handeling the snakes does less harm,and less stres to the snake.one must be trained tho. my husband free handels just about any venomus snake safely.
this is a classic example of why regulation and Government oversight is needed. This fellow reported in an earlier post that they were struck by a Mama. And you get mad when laws are past ? This is fodder for those who want to ban the keeping of hots.
kobrakid08 on 2009-06-23
I KNOW A GUY THAT ONLY DEALS WITH VENOMIODS, WILL THAT BE THE SAME THING OR WOULD IT BE DIFFERENT IN LAWS BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO VENOM. MAYBE I'M GETTING MY INFO FROM THE WRONG SORCE.
Anonymous on 2009-06-23
TWPD ! Sorey !
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