Well staying in the shadows doesn't do anyone any good, not even you! What do you have to worry about if your animals are kept properly and you have no illegal animals? If you think that you are not going to be regulated then you are living in the stone ages. The USDA inspects the livestock industry and it helps protect the industry. The livestock industry is very rich and they couldn't stop regulation. Animal control inspects dog and cat owners. We will be regulated.

There is strength in numbers. The fact remains that businesses have protections and legal rights and hobbyists have very few. If you want to be all paranoid then that is on you. The industry needs to establish itself better and have legal pathways to do what we do. This will require everyone to step forward, admit what they do, why they do it and fight for the right to do so. This is just the sad reality. The good ole days are gone! Accept it!

If you want to stop the banning agenda you would be better served establishing yourself as a business. That is just a fact. If you want to hang yourself up (and the industry) because of the fact they might want to come check you out then that is silly unless you are doing illegal stuff. Plenty of pet owners keep their animals like crap and inspections are good.

The herp industry was founded by hobbyists yet this has evolved into businesses for many and is now a young industry. We are going to have to play the game and fight against the banning agenda to protect our rights. If you don't, then you are more then likely a wash or damaging. Hobbyists who don't sell offspring and give away their animals can say they are pet owners. That is fine but if you do shows, buy, sell and trade, breed, collect for others, or advertise on the internet you are a business with few exceptions. You should admit it and establish yourself as a small or micro business and fight for yours and everyone's rights. We need everyone invloved and businesses have more protections and rights.

Welkerii

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