Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I emailed you but haven't heard back -- understandable you are probably too busy to be checking emails at this time. Hopefully this post will find it's way to you.

My question: Have we given up any chance at pushing this to remain a local issue governed by local laws instead of a national one?

I for one would like to keep trying to make this committee realize that this isn't a national problem and shouldn't require a national law.
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Tosha
JET Pythons
Toshas Blog

Herp Medicine does not equal a bottle of Baytril - Dr. Scott Stahl

Sorry I haven't gotten to all my emails. I get about 300 a day. Yes we believe it is a state issue. The problem is there is $1.4 Billion in federal Everglades Restoration money at stake so the issue is being made national to gain enough profile to use the Burm to get the cash. It is all political and it is all about big money. The media loves the story and tries to make it more dramatic with every passing day. We are doing what we can to influence the direction but we need more people and money involved to have greater impact. There is a stampede for the money and we are trying to keep the Reptile Nation from getting trampled in the process.
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Andrew Wyatt
President USARK

Is the money also the reason that dogs who have killed 300 people in the US since the 80's and permanently maimed over 1000 more aren't being regulated or banned? Do canine people have more power than the herp people? There are loads of loose dogs with rabies in the US and countless numbers of feral cats who destroy things like the endangered Key Largo wood rat...so why aren't they under intense scrutiny?

I also believe someone recently posted that a family 'pet' dog went into the room of a 4 day old infant, grabbed it, and took it into the woods where it was found with a crushed skull, two collapsed lungs, and numerous teeth marks in it...don't know if it survived or not. That didn't seem to make many headlines...maybe too much money made in the fuzzy killer cat and dog industry to ban them?

So...it seems that it may indeed be all about the money.
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Matt Lerer
Ghi Reptiles

Do canine people have more power than the herp people?

Sorry to say the furry, lovey dovey dog crowd is very poewerful and vocal. Just look at the reaction you had on this forum the otherday with the Mike Vick thing. The guy went to prison and did his time and that still isnt good enough. If Mike Vick had killed a box of snakes or two, the reaction even here, wouldnt have been nearly the same.

DOGS = MANS BEST FRIEND

SNAKES = SLITHERING POISON FILLED SATAN

or just look at the approved method for killing the burmese python on these hunts for them, either a blunt object or hand held cutting device. While with stray dogs and cats they have these nice humane live traps baited with food and must be checked on every 12 hours so that an animal does not get stuck without water.

while I think the importation of animals does need to be better regulated with tighter quota's, bans and such are just not the way to go and it's hard for me to back any organization that says they are ok in any way even if it is being done to preserve the captive breeding community.
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Josh & Krysty Hutto
J&K Reptiles

Various Ball Pythons, boas, dogs, cats, fish, an amel tiger retic female, a couple sulcatas and a few other odds and ends.

a BAD dog is MADE not bred, support the American Pit Bull Terrier as the greatest breed of dogs on Earth!!!!!

"...it's hard for me to back any organization that says they are ok in any way even if it is being done to preserve the captive breeding community."

You're not alone.
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Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American

www.natures-signature.com