REXANO, www.REXANO.org Editorial by Tim Cole
A congresswoman from Guam just introduced a new federal bill titled “The Non-Native Wildlife Invasion Prevention Act”, HR 669, that would in effect ban many common household pets and educational animals for no good reason.
This Bill is not based in science, but in the ideology of powerful special interest animal rights (AR) groups. There is absolutely no evidence to suggest that banning the import, sale and trade of any of these animals will have any positive effect on the economy, environment, or human or animal species health.
In fact, if passed it would destroy many families and businesses. It would have a decidedly negative impact on an already ailing economy by destroying a vital and growing industry at a time when our country is in need of jobs and growth. The USFWS (US Fish and Wildlife Service) has just made changes to the CITES export permit process which would allow quality captive bred animals to be more easily exported to international customers. Passing HR669 would negate all the work USFWS has done for over a year. This Bill is a disaster to American small business and families in a time of economic hardship.
I feel that our native wildlife is already in peril from an existing problem of FERAL CATS! This is a real problem that is here and needs to be addressed. Why spend time/money going after an imaginary problem that MIGHT happen when we do have a problem already here
I will not support this bill and groups who are taking the stand of animal rights groups that are not educated about the real problems as I see them.
To learn more about Tim Cole see Austin Herpetological Society , Austin Reptile & Amphibian Expo and Austin Reptile Services
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3 users commented in " US Congress Attack on Household Pets "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackHa Ha, travel to Guam and try and find some birds and then maybe you will see the rationale for this bill. Not to say, it couldn’t be more well written, but there is a need.
I just became aware of this bill today and could not believe it when I read it. What is the reasoning behind banning such pets as hamsters and guinea pigs when they have been here for a couple of hundred years and could not even survive long enough in the wild to do damage if someone was stupid enough to turn them loose? And why would they give a free pass to a llama? Llamas are not native to this country. They must have a use for them in Guam. Does anyone know how organized the opposition is to this and why the mainstream media isn’t running articles on it? My children have pet guinea pigs and I cannot fathom telling them they have to go. Even if they let us keep the pets as we are not breeders, how would we be able to get food for them? This is utter stupidity, and someone who has nothing better to do than cause trouble and aggravation. With the exception of an incident occassionally in Florida, I have yet to hear of any ecological disasters in this country due to people turning wildlife loose. Why should someone from Guam which may as well be a world away from this be allowed to introduce a bill here that would have such far reaching effects? And the Humane Society will simply not be satisfied until NO ONE owns a pet, period.
If you read the full contents of this bill, it does say that if the animals are already in posession that you would be able to keep them.
I for one, as an animal lover, but government cautious, would be happy to see SOME sort of legislation banning some species of snakes, particularly the large breeds. There are way too many dealers of these snakes and not nearly enough people responsible enough to care for one of these animals when it reaches maturity. I am appalled when I go to reptile shows and see dealers selling baby Anaconda. What the F***??? Not to mention seeing a 12 year old boy eyeing one up as a pet with mom and dad right behind him. NO NO NO!!! Large snakes ARE NOT PETS. I asked a few of these people what they would do when the snake reached full size and they all said give them to a zoo. How many phone calls do you think the zoo gets every day from people like this. ALOT!!! I’m sorry, but I agree that the reptile industry needs a leash on it. And if your living is based on selling these animals, shame on ya.
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