NC exotic pet law expansion heads to Perdue





The Associated Press

RALEIGH, N.C.

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People who own pythons, crocodiles and some types of alligators would have to keep them in sturdy enclosures with a lock according to legislation awaiting Gov. Beverly Perdue's signature.



The Senate gave unanimous final legislative approval Wednesday to the bill that also requires owners to alert police if one of these reptiles escape.



The owner would face a misdemeanor if a friend or stranger dies or suffers a life-threatening injury from the reptile and due care wasn't taken.



The measure builds on a 1949 law that focuses on poisonous

*[venomous] snakes. The change reflects increased ownership of exotic pets and their danger to humans.



Approval comes two weeks after a 2-year-old Florida girl died when she was strangled by a Burmese python missing from a home terrarium.



end article.



If I may speak freely here; there was word in the Fayetteville Observer for July 14, 2009 that the sponsor of this bill, Edward Jones was hoping to make any violation a felony. It is also mentioned that any subspecies or hybrid falls under the bill. Neither I agree with because to me a felony should fall under the pretense that it is done with intent. I'm no lawyer, that's just my opinion.

Secondly, there are keepers of dwarf burmese and dwarf retics. There is no threat from these subspecies, so why not make an exemption?

This is beginning to worry me. Despite the fact the USARK is based out of here and I know it has been active in this legislation with the keepers best interests in mind. I signed up with NCARK back in 2005. I support the ARK, I believe in the ARK, I trust the ARK, hell I'm a member. I just don't trust politicians.



*on a side note , I had to correct the article. it read "poisonous snakes". it should have read "venomous snakes". you can eat 'em I'm always correcting people on this, just a peeve of mine.

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