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What is your blunt opinion of USARK. Are they hardcore enough?
I've heard mixed things on them. Thoughts?

>>What is your blunt opinion of USARK. Are they hardcore enough?
>>I've heard mixed things on them. Thoughts?

The revised subject is self explanatory. You did ask for "blunt".
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Best regards,
AlanColesReptiles

N/P
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Pythonidae-Empire

I don't know what to make of them yet. Sometimes they sound like they want to defend reptile keepers other times they sound more like a environmentalist agency? Maybe a combination of both?

For example I see that they support the regulation of large species of snakes. In other words they support laws that can limit what kind of people can own certain kinds of reptiles.

Under their Position Statements

Support - Legislation for responsible regulation of large snake species, venomous reptiles and crocodilians as outlined by USARK.

Oppose - Legislation designating any reptiles as Dangerous or Inherently Dangerous; or banning the private ownership and trade in any reptiles based on unsubstantiated and false claims of public safety risk.
Link

Well, you are obviously new to our fight of keeping the reptiles we want to keep. Ill try to make this as simple as possible for you. The wording you are finding confusing is wording put into place in states that want to ban reptiles specifically large constrictors. USARK is working with legislators so that we can keep these as pets. In order to accomplish this they put together necessary wording so we can still keep them. If they don't word a plan in this manner than these reptiles will be banned.

So, the plan is that these constrictors are regulated in these states so that they are not banned. The government wants regulations so USARK is putting together a plan so we can still keep constrictors. I think you would agree that a regulation is better than a ban.

Subscribe to USARK. Its free and you can stay up to date with USARK's efforts.
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Best regards,
AlanColesReptiles

USARK may be free to subscribe to, but it costs money to fight these battles. Only with paid memberships and public donations can we even consider fighting regulation.

Don't be cheap people. If you love the animals you keep, want to be able to move them across state lines, and in the end want to be able to keep them, join USARK as a paid member, or make a donation today and any time you can.

Warren
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Dr Warren Booth / Director USARK
North Carolina State University
Department of Entomology

Warren, I appreciate everything USARK does but you sir are pretty short with inquiring minds.

I think your approach at generating funds may be offensive when you make a comment that we are all "cheap".
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Best regards,
AlanColesReptiles

Hi Alan,
I did not state that everyone is cheap. I said "don't be cheap". That is very different. Many people expect everything for nothing. There are not many places on earth where that happens, and in this case, that is certainly not possible. There is nothing about the fight that we have been enduring and will be for a long time that is free. It all takes money and therefore any donation and any paid membership is valuable. While USARK offers free updates regarding what is going on, with no funds those updates will be infrequent and eventually gone.

Warren
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Dr Warren Booth / Director USARK
North Carolina State University
Department of Entomology

Also, sorry if my replies are short. I have made these posts during breaks in my work. I do not have time to post long and elaborate answers. Anyway, now more than ever is the time to step up the fight.

Warren
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Dr Warren Booth / Director USARK
North Carolina State University
Department of Entomology

I don't mind doing my part to help and then some. I need assurance, we all do, that USARK will not throw pet owners under the bus. Pet owners must come first and foremost. I have met people more passionate about reptiles then me who did not believe in keeping them as pets. They just study them in the wild.. I have little or nothing in common with someone like that. We have totally seperate agendas.

Taking on the government and the animal rights (AR) groups is a uphill battle to say the least. They have practically unlimited money. My concern is we are not hardcore enough. If we give them a inch they will take a foot as we just witnessed.

What gives you the impression that USARK will throw anyone under the bus, so to speak? If we lose single species, we run the risk of losing all species. USARK is there for the reptile keeper, as the name suggests - United States Association of Reptile Keepers - not field herps, scientists, etc, Reptile Keepers.

Warren
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Dr Warren Booth / Director USARK
North Carolina State University
Department of Entomology

If you read their mission statement, the first sentence sounds good.... but the last sentence "The health of these animals, public safety, and maintaining ecological integrity are our primary concerns"....makes it sound like their primary concern is not pet owners right to keep reptiles.

It seems like we are dealing with a free market issue here. The right to keep trade and sell reptiles of our choice. Although the environmental issues are important. With limited time, funds, and money I don't know why they would be focusing on that. Especially since there are so many organzation already covering environmentalism. I am not saying one should not support USARK I just think the primary concern and focus must be on pet owners/breeders/ reptile keepers. Just my opinion.

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Mission Statement

The US Association of Reptile Keepers (USARK) is a science and education based advocacy for the responsible private ownership of, and trade in reptiles. We endorse caging standards, sound husbandry, escape prevention protocols, and an integrated approach to vital conservation issues. Our goal is to facilitate cooperation between government agencies, the scientific community, and the private sector in order to produce policy proposals that will effectively address important husbandry and conservation issues. The health of these animals, public safety, and maintaining ecological integrity are our primary concerns.
Link

"The health of these animals, public safety, and maintaining ecological integrity are our primary concerns."

I see nothing wrong with this statement...is health not important..is the ecological integrity and public safety the reason we are in this mess..

Come on...read it with an open mind..they are the only ones willing to fight our fight....will you, can you take the time off your life to go and fight. Have you ever hired a lawyer, do you have any idea how much it cost.....I will bet you if every breeder on this site and every business was to throw a little money their way or join up it wouldn't hurt....I have spent money on dumber crap then this...you ever buy a lottery ticket or more than one...did you win...no but you had a chance...if they need funds to fight for you and every one else then all should donate...unless you have a better source of a fighter then I will help them...do you?
Travis
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LAIR OF DRAGONS

Well put Travis! It seems that "elidogs" is hiding behind a screen name trying to cast negativity in our minds like some HSUS tactic...

We all stand united or we will fall apart! Support USARK!
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Best regards,
AlanColesReptiles

Ok...but if not USARK then who....we need someone to represent at the hearings...someone who speaks for all of us. I dont think OJ Simpsons lawyer is available is he...
I feel better just knowing there is someone there trying to fight the fight even if the results are not what was expected.
Can you imagine if we would have had no one to help fight up to this point....lets not look a gift horse in the mouth.

All I see is complaining without a solution..

I dont see any other organization willing to jump in and fight for us...or did I miss something.

Travis
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LAIR OF DRAGONS

Before asking others for opinions on this kind of topic, how about you post your opinions along with factual, rational reasoning.

My answer is simple. Yes, I strongly support USARK. I am a board member of USARK, and I see exactly what goes into making this organisation what it is.

Here are my questions to you: 1) What is your name (never hide behind user names when posting this kind of question), and 2) do you support USARK financially?

Thanks,

Warren
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Dr Warren Booth / Director USARK
North Carolina State University
Department of Entomology

Warren,
First off thanks for all you have done to try to help us all.
I do have a question....What are the chances of getting "The Constrictor Ban" reversed or is it a sure thing with no recourse?
Travis Delaney
Lair of Dragons
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LAIR OF DRAGONS

The major thanks should go to Andrew Wyatt for his true dedication and hard work.

As far as a reversal. I have not spoken to Andrew or other board members in the last few days due to being away for work when this was announced. I have just returned and am getting through some of the backlog I have here. I assume a board meeting will be held in the coming days to discuss the way forward.

The big thing is that this costs money. We cannot do this for free and every boa and python owner should be aware for that. We have lost 4 to this so far, that we can hopefully regain, however the rest are far from safe.

Warren
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Dr Warren Booth / Director USARK
North Carolina State University
Department of Entomology

You are right Warren! This costs money! What we need, is people/corps w/deep pockets to help out! Kerry King, Slash, Purina etc. Has USARK reached out to these folks?

Zoomed and exoterra...These guys depend on reptile sales to keep going. And where is Peter khale?? Haven't heard a thing from him for ages. Why hasn't Bryan done a [ban] episode dedicated to this specifically?? It is one of the most followed things in the industry!

Zoomed are already a major contributor to USARK.
Look at their contribution over the last two years regarding matching funds and donations. I cannot speak for anyone else however.
Warren
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Dr Warren Booth / Director USARK
North Carolina State University
Department of Entomology

I think it needs to go a little deeper into the structure of the hobby....need to reach out to companies that tie into the industry...such as:
Food providers for rodent breeders
Fed Ex and all other companies that ship across state lines
Box companies
Vets
Reptile show cordinators and the people that rent the buildings to them for shows

I am sure that there are people out there that have reptiles that know people employeed by some of these companies listed above.

They may not see the downfall in their business for a while but it will affect their bottom lines.

Put your minds to it...think outside the box....any and everyone that will be affected by the ripple it will cause in their business.
Travis
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LAIR OF DRAGONS

Travis is 100% correct, i myself am a do it yourselfer, so all my racks, displays, gecko cages, rat cages, incubators, everything is home made and bought at home depot or other home improvement stores, thousands of dollars a year, not to mention the hit sterilite will take on tubs, i have actually tried getting ahold of home depot headquaters but im still waiting for a reply, kevin is also right in his video posted above, letters and calls may be a start but we need to stand as a whole somehow...

Well if USARK is going to be the frontline leader in this fight they need to have someone in their organization to work on getting sponsers after we make initial contact. If they do have such a person we need that contact info.
Send me donation cans and brochures and every pet store in Lancaster and York will have one sitting on their counter. Give me information....appoint a person(s) in each State that has all the info needed to talk to sponsers and not over the phone...face to face.
Get it up and running now...thye have the higher ground.
Travis
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LAIR OF DRAGONS