hearing has been set for April 23

[SuperMom30]

This was posted on Reptilerooms just thought I would pass it on....

ON April 23rd 2009 The Natural Resources Committee of the U.S. Congress will hold a hearing on H.R. 669, a resolution that will in effect ban importation, interstate transport and the private ownership of most birds, mammals, reptiles, and fish as pets. Should HR669 be adopted as written only the following nonnative animals would be allowed:

any cat (Felis catus)
cattle or oxen (Bos taurus)
chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus)
dog (Canis lupus familiaris)
donkey (Equus asinus)
domesticated members of the family Anatidae (geese)
duck (domesticated Anas spp.)
goat (Capra aegagrus hircus)
goldfish (Carassius auratus auratus)
horse (Equus caballus)
llama (Lama glama)
mule or hinny (Equus caballus x E. asinus)
pig or hog (Sus scrofa domestica)
domesticated varieties of rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus)
sheep (Ovis aries)

Should this resolution be adopted into law as written it will have a devastating impact on every pet owner and business in the United States.
Action is needed TODAY to protect your rights to keep your pets! To find out what you can do to protect your pets please click on the link below.
Please note that the linked PIJAC PET ALERT requires that you have Adobe Acrobat installed. More info will follow as it becomes available...
http://www.pijac.org/files/public/US_HR_669.pdf

 

[SuperMom30]

Here is the letter I wrote...but wanted to double check with everyone before I emailed it...

Hello, my name is Heather Anderson. I am writing this letter over my concerns of two bills that have been introduced into Congress on 1/26/09 and 2/3/09.
H.R. 669 introduced into the House by Rep. Madeleine Bordallo [GU], and S.373 in the Senate introduced by Sen. Bill Nelson [FL]. Making it illegal to own reptiles that are not native to our area.
While I understand the impact of non-native species that are let loose because of someone not being able to care for them any more or simply because the novelty of owning them has wore off. There are still many of us in the reptile community that love and properly care for our reptiles. There are also a lot of responsible breeders that there lively hood is based on these beautiful animals. Shutting down reptile breeders will be putting even more people in financial down fall in this down word economical spiral. You will not only be punishing people who love and care for these animals in financial ruins but it will set off a chain reaction of financial problems. You make owning reptiles illegal, breeders lose there livelihood, next is the impact on pet stores, then the companies that make lighting for reptiles, the people that make substrate for reptiles, the people that raise or make food for reptiles .etc…etc. I ask you to walk into a pet store and look at all the products for reptiles and then you will see just how many companies you will be effecting and how many people that will be out of jobs.
As for the reptiles being responsible for the destruction of our native species. We are the biggest cause of destruction to wildlife habitats. We push animals to the brink of extinction everyday. We tear down their homes to build our own. There are even more irresponsible dog and cat owners who dump there animals that to has a great impact on the environment and safety of a community. For example : The Beach Mouse is an endangered animal in my area. Not only people that keep building condos and beach houses are pushing them closer to extinction but we are also overrun by feral cats that are killing them because of irresponsible pet owners that can no longer care or want their cats. So do we make owning a cat illegal? More feral dogs attack people than reptiles that were let lose in the wild. Instead of pointing fingers and trying to banish reptile ownership, why not pass a law that has stipulations and requirements of owning reptiles. Such as all reptiles sold must be micro chipped and a contract signed stating the proper care and requirements that particular species will require till they are adults. I find many of the people that have unwanted reptiles are simple because they were misinformed of the care and requirements that these animals need throughout there lives. By requiring reptiles be mirco-chipped not only can the irresponsible person be fined and punished, but will also detour people from releasing these animals into the wild.
My other concern is over the fact that people that own reptiles now will not be grandfathered in. I am just one of many people who love there reptiles, the way most people love dogs or cats. I could not imagine my life without them in it, and I think I speak for all of us reptile lovers. If god forbid this law does pass, What will happen to our beloved pets? Most could not go from a home where they are loved and fed everyday and throne into the wild and survive. It sickens me to think that they may all have to be euthanized from no fault of their own or the people who love and care for them. I ask you to please reconsider passing these laws that will not only put more strain on people in an already falling economy but would take away the joy in our lives that these wonderful animals bring to us. To many of us they are not just a novelty or an exotic position but our best friends and companions. They brighten our lives and breath life into us. If you doubt the love and care of reptiles and there owners, take the time to go to the online reptile forums you will see how many of us there are who absolutely adore them and make it a point to help everyone who has a question or concern over there reptile. We take the time out of our day to help and educate people on the proper care for there reptiles because they are so important to us. Don’t punish the people who really love and care for these animals.

Sincerely,

Heather J. Anderson

 

[cheese]

that is dum, BEEP, AND BEEB. GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO

 

[tyryce]

Hello Supermom30,

I read your letter and it sounds good providing some good arguments as to why they should not pass that bill. I did notice some spelling errors in the use of 'there' instead of 'their' and a few 'to' instead of 'too'. Hope this helps...not sure if you were asking for that as part of a look through or not.

 

[SuperMom30]

any feedback is good for me will fix it and send it out!

 

[Rozen]

Thank god i live in Canada

 

[jortiz9758]

Wow that bill is total BS......

SuperMom ,the letter was great..many great points included in it.

 

[SuperMom30]

Thank you all so much...I really urge everyone to take the time and email them as well!

Here is the people that should be emailed

If you have questions or wish to express your views to PIJAC, please contact Marshall Meyers or Bambi Nicole
Osborne by phone at 202-452-1525 or via email at [email protected] or [email protected].

I mean it's not like they can't really pass this law look how many pets are already illegal that people were once aloud to keep...hell even pit bulls are now illegal in a lot of area's because of dumb owners.

 

[BrittanyS]

Okay so will beardies be banned?

 

[SuperMom30]

ALL non-native species!!! :shock: There is a separate one about pythons but HR669 is all non native species the list even has exotic birds ,mammals, and fish because of people letting them go and them destroying native wildlife... I really believe that most of this is due to people being given the wrong info or NO info and they get overwhelmed and don't know what to do with them. If they would just crack down on pet stores (ie giving customers the proper information and care these animals will need throughout there lives and maybe making it be mandatory that all animals sold be micro chipped...this way they can punish the right people and not all of us that actually care about our pets) I'm pretty worried about this bill due to pets we used to be aloud to have that are now illegal, so it's not like it a far fetched thought that this bill could be passed.

 

[BrittanyS]

That makes me so angry. It really is not fair to us who take proper care of our animals. I would much rather pay extra for a pet with a microchip in it. It would even be okay if I had to get a lisence. Either way, if the law passes, no body has to know I have a beardie. :evil:

 

[SuperMom30]

:lol: that's just what be and my worst half said! going to start an underground railroad for all beardie lovers lol

It really is not fair to us...I just pray it does not pass and people take it to heart enough to make there voices heard! rotest: rotest: rotest: rotest: :help: :help: rotest: rotest:

 

[LJean]

. I really believe that most of this is due to people being given the wrong info or NO info and they get overwhelmed and don't know what to do with them. If they would just crack down on pet stores (ie giving customers the proper information and care these animals will need throughout there lives and maybe making it be mandatory that all animals sold be micro chipped...

Wanted to respond to this. Yes I agree with making sure that proper care info is given to those who purchase pets. But who is to say what is the proper care for said pet? There are so many differing opinions on care, for every animal, who would be responsible for saying what is "THE' thing to go by?
Take dogs for instance. There are many people who will only feed raw. Some who cook for their dogs. Some who only feed the best quality dog food (which in itself has many people with differing opinions) and those who feed cheaper quality foods and think it is totally ok. And everyone in between!

How can you regulate this?

 

[SuperMom30]

The same way we do : Proper research

How many pet store sell and push Calci-sand as safe...but if you do your research you will find out that it is one of the worst!Here are some exaples I and other people were given when they first bought there beardie Examples: Feeding babys large meal worms and crickets, keeping them on sand, Having to have heat rocks, If you want them to stay small you just keep them in a 10gal they will be fine in that, They need a friend so you might want to buy 2, There Lighting needs is something that must be met (I was told just to use a basking and a night bulb and that was all that was needed...this by PetLand) me and a bunch of others were never even told about them eating veggies or that cals and vit was a must!...Yes people should do as much reserch as possible before buying a pet but many don't and I just think a lot less people would be blindsided along with many more happy healthy reptiles if they were given a care sheet with PROP Care and needs that must be met!

 

[UTreptiles]

The good thing about beardies is that they can survive on veggies alone if need be. Supermarket produce section is going to be a beardies best friend. Because if there are scheduled deliveries of crickets to your address they will probably put your name on a watch list with the ATF or FBI. SWAT team busts in the middle of the night to confiscate your dragons. Government is just trying to dip thier hands in every aspect of our lives.