A NEW ACT THAT MIGHT MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO OWN BEARDIES...

[Ronni1123]

...OR EVEN OTHER EXOTIC PETS.
Can they really do this? They would have to send an army to my house if they really want my Paarthurnax, or Ela..!

http://herpalliance.rallycongress.com/9645/no-on-hr-996-invasive-fish-wildlife-prevention-act/


Please sign! And share!

 

[drakedragon]

is that just in the us or all over the world. cause im from the uk

 

[Momswims1]

Are they seriously going to police reptile owners? I don't even know what to think about that.

 

[joea]

FROM MY COLD DEAD HANDS!

 

[jacody]

WOW! After reading that I'm really wondering what else they're going to target next.. I would never release any of my pets into the wild.. that's like saying I'll let my dog out and slam the door to never let him in again..

 

[jezwolf175]

What other childhood memories are they going to try to take away from my children and my children's children? What other JOBS are they going to target. No reptilian pets = No reptile vet specialists. And what about families who move into apartments that are no dogs or cats allowed? *waves fists into the air* You can take my beardie after you pry her from my cold dead fingers!

 

[Valerie]

A couple yrs ago they tried to pass this law and it failed. Many people protested. They were talking reptiles, hamsters,guinea pigs,and etc. We need to fight them again.

 

[Valerie]

Oh yeah,the last time they tried to pass this law they would let your exsisting pets but you couldnt get another and you could not sell them. To finish my last post above birds were on the list to. You could have a rabbit, cat or dog. Im sure there are more but come on.

 

[SkeptiBee]

From http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/113/hr996#overview

Prognosis: 9% chance of getting past committee.
7% chance of being enacted.

I think the odds are in our favor (especially since it failed the last time too).

What I think is funny is their list of animals they deem acceptable. Just about all of them were introduced by Europeans and they are highly destructive to natural wildlife. Cats are okay? For real? Felines decimate large populations of local birds. I'm more inclined to call them pests than bearded dragons (this is coming from a person who owns two cats and loves felines very much).

 

[zandi202]

Honestly I think the government just gets bored from time to time and this is what happens. Beardies are too amazing. I could not imagine not having Jace or Zy in my life.

I'd leave the U.S. and go to Canada before I allowed this to happen.

 

[TheWerewolf]

Ah yes, another thing that makes me proud to be an American. (Sarcasm was in the first sentence, of course.) But seriously, what are they thinking? I'd never give away my birds and lizard, over my cold dead body. And besides, my tiels and beardie wouldn't even live in Maine weather. They're Aussie birds and Nim's an Aussie reptile. They would die from Maine's cold winters, seriously. Besides, we live in a FREE country. Wouldn't making this new thing part of the law lose some of our freedom? I think so. I swear, what is happening with the world? But anyways, they'll never have my tiels or my Nim, not while I have anything to say about it.

 

[SkeptiBee]

Honestly I think the government just gets bored from time to time and this is what happens.

No, native species that are overrun by escaped or released non-native species is a serious problem. Perhaps you not aware of the issues in Florida where the Burmese pythons are over breeding and eating virtually anything and everything they want in the Everglades. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120813155523.htm They've been encouraging hunters to come in and track down as many snakes as they can, giving them bounty money for the skins or snakes they retrieve.

we live in a FREE country. Wouldn't making this new thing part of the law lose some of our freedom? I think so. I swear, what is happening with the world?

The world is not the USA. Also, the constitution does not grant us a green card to do whatever we please in the name of freedom. You are still bound by a slew of laws and restrictions that are instituted to protect society as a whole. If animals are construed as dangers to the local habitat, you better believe there will be some measure of restrictions or bans placed on offending species. Sometimes this isn't fair, like in the case where cities ban pit bulls or other "fighting" dogs. In other cases, it is totally legitimate. Like in the example above with the pythons in the Everglades. Some cities have have restrictions or bans on livestock animals. The state of Hawaii has banned snakes from being imported in (though this doesn't stop negligent people from doing it).

I will grant you that it's not the fault of the animals in these cases. It's stupid owners doing stupid things. Something tells me that most of us members wouldn't be turning our bearded dragons loose, throwing our hands to the skies ala Free Willy style as we yelled "BE FREE LIL GUY!", if we couldn't take care of it anymore. We'd be responsible and seek a home for it. But there are very thoughtless humans out there that are not responsible for the things they do. They end up ruining it for the rest of us. Like I said, I don't think something like this would pass. Congress is too busy trying to prevent gays from marrying... :roll:

 

[zandi202]

Honestly I think the government just gets bored from time to time and this is what happens.

No, native species that are overrun by escaped or released non-native species is a serious problem. Perhaps you not aware of the issues in Florida where the Burmese pythons are over breeding and eating virtually anything and everything they want in the Everglades. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120813155523.htm They've been encouraging hunters to come in and track down as many snakes as they can, giving them bounty money for the skins or snakes they retrieve.

Actually last night before I went to bed I remembered that being an issue mentioned a while ago. I haven't heard anything about it recently so it went to the back of my head. It does make sense. Personally, I don't think people should be punished for what other people do out of stupidity, but I understand from what you said and what I have read online that this won't pass so I'm not too worried about it.

 

[SkeptiBee]

Actually last night before I went to bed I remembered that being an issue mentioned a while ago. I haven't heard anything about it recently so it went to the back of my head. It does make sense. Personally, I don't think people should be punished for what other people do out of stupidity, but I understand from what you said and what I have read online that this won't pass so I'm not too worried about it.

I agree whole heartedly!

Honestly, if this type of thing should ever crop up, it should be on a state level and not a national one. The state would know what needs to be done in order to curtail local issues of invasive species. No sense punishing people at a national level if there are no problems elsewhere. Besides, once recovery is made, they can lift the restrictions again. It's happened with hunting in certain states, so... Stems to say it could happen with animal ownership too.

 

[zandi202]

Actually last night before I went to bed I remembered that being an issue mentioned a while ago. I haven't heard anything about it recently so it went to the back of my head. It does make sense. Personally, I don't think people should be punished for what other people do out of stupidity, but I understand from what you said and what I have read online that this won't pass so I'm not too worried about it.

I agree whole heartedly!

Honestly, if this type of thing should ever crop up, it should be on a state level and not a national one. The state would know what needs to be done in order to curtail local issues of invasive species. No sense punishing people at a national level if there are no problems elsewhere. Besides, once recovery is made, they can lift the restrictions again. It's happened with hunting in certain states, so... Stems to say it could happen with animal ownership too.

Plus I live in New England. Sure a beardie might be fine in the wild during latr spring summer and fall, but there is no way they could survive the winters. Plus Jace and Zy are so pampered, I don't thibk they would know how to find food.