Posted by:
goini04
at Fri Nov 17 17:57:50 2006 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by goini04 ]
The ZAOA is about the closest thing I can see that would fit what you are looking for. http://www.zaoa.org/about.htm
You have probably heard of them before, and the president is the curator of the San Diego Zoo I believe (Larry Killmar, Ph.D., Chairman San Diego Zoo???). They are working towards an exemption much like the AZA has with state legislation, except that they are more open for private individuals and their facilities as where the AZA is certainly not. It is the AZA's belief that private owners and their facilities should not be allowed ownership of MOST exotics, not just hots. My boss just recently got back from their convention in California a couple weeks ago.
The venomous community in order to hold some clout will need to build some credibility and show some responsibility measures being taken. The problem is the time frame that will be necessary in order to make it shine bright enough to be seen by legislators and proven legitimate and workable.
We must face facts, the likelihood of ANY private owner being able to stock their own antivenin is very slim. Therefore, we would need to do as was suggested in the previous posting that we need to get antivenin banks formed and functional in each region or location where venomous snakes are legal to be kept, whether with/without legislation. In many states, as here in Ohio, hospitals cannot use YOUR antivenin if they already have what THEY consider will work. The reason is due to insurance liability. They usually dont always carry the best possible antivenin as well as dont always carry the type of antivenin for a specific species. However, I have spoken with several doctors at different hospitals (Mount Carmel, OSU, and a couple others) around Columbus(which venomous owenership is ILLEGAL by the way), which state that if an owner calls them and informs them that they need a specific type of antivenin for a specific animal, the hospital WILL stock it. The hospital once the antivenin is expired, can be returned for credit therefore they can do so without penalty to the hospital.
Next, we need to start working on these breeders who are out selling anything to anyone at any time for the right price. That is our biggest killer. These animals are entirely too easy to obtain. Unfortunately, the hobby is working against itself and there isn't enough people to turn it around. Money always speaks louder than vocals and that is where we are going to get screwed the most.
Unfortunately, the most possible way of being able to get this situation under a slight amount of control is to have some sort of FAIR legislation. This legislation would need to control caging requirements, permits, etc. However, most people fight against ANY legislation because their concern is that once you let the government in, you can't get them the hell out. Unfortunately, it will be a risk that would need to be taken.
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Well.... - goini04, Fri Nov 17 17:57:50 2006