Reptile & Amphibian Forums

What do you think? I believe Larger reptiles (say, anything that has a rep. for reaching 6 feet) should require a license. Before Perspective owners are allowd to get the license, they should have to go through some kind of course and pass tests about the animal and it's care.

So What do you think? What are the reasons behind your thought?
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2.0.0 Iguanas, 2.4.0 Beardies, 1.2.0 Saharan/Nigerian Uromastyx, 1.1.1 Leos, 0.0.1 African Fat Tail, 1.0.0 Columbian Rainbow Boa, 0.0.1 Fla Garter Snake, 0.0.1 Corn Snake, 0.0.3 Fire Belly Toads, 1.0.0 Eastern Painted Turtle, 0.0.1 African Sideneck, 1.1.1 Horses {Baby next May!!!}, 2.2.0 cats, 0.1.0 dog, and I'm done for now.....

I agree with the license idea, in addition to this, I think pet stores should be required to price these reptiles at much higher prices. maybe like $200 for an iguana?

I like the idea of a permit, because it will curve idiots who release them and it will make other idiots think before buying them. grandmothers are buying iguanas for young children. SSHHEETTTHH1

Making iguanas illegal only harms the iguanas who have loving homes. It doesn't work. Look at NYC. People don't even know they are illegal there. We got a rescue from Washington DC where they are also illegal.

Cindy

First of all, you state that you think people should go through a course about the reptiles care. Not every one agrees on one certain way to house a specific lizard. There are constantly debates raging about this issue in particular. One thing that works for one person, does not work for the next. Sometimes SPECIFIC husbandry issues depend upon the SPECIFIC lizard itself and not the species. That is the problem with that. Second of all, the people that would pass these laws and govern the permits know absolutely nothing about reptiles or the herp industry at all. The do not know what is going on with who and who is doing what. They don't know a colubrid from a gecko. Believe me, I have my share of rescues taken in and I have personally seen the horror of what happens to reptiles that have unknowledgable owners, but we cannot allow people who know nothing of our hobby to govern the laws surrounding it. If you do not realize this fact you have not yet begun to come into contact with these people. It breaks my heart for all of the unwanted herps out there, but there are just as many if not more unwanted cats and dogs too. Does that mean we should have laws against owning them? I wish there was some sort of solution to the problem, but as long as ignorance is in charge, there is not. The only solution we have it to try to educate the future of our hobby, our children. And to educate herp owners now.
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JS

"The road to hell is paved with good intentions."

I think if there were laws or restrictions on Pet stores themselves who sell herps then that may help a tiny bit. If there were laws making pet stores and their employees to learn about the critters they sell then at least they could pass on the knowledge to their consumers who buy iguanas and other reptiles. They should be reguired to give information about the species before they sell them. Every iguana bought from a pet store should come with a copy of Iguanas for dummies or some other guide to proper care for them. They should also be limited on how many iguanas they can house at one time depending on their size and ability. Unlike rescues and adoption agencies for iguanas pet stores just sell them to anyone and don't even tell them the first thing about them. Every iguana from a pet store should be vet checked and there should be a form to fill out just like one from an adotion agency. There should be enough time between filling out the form 'till the time the iguana is picked up for them and the buyer to know if they can properly care for it and if they really want it. Kind of like a waiting period. Anyway, it's just my opinion because of what I have seen in pet stores. If nothing else it would make some pet stores not want to carry iguanas because of all the trouble.

Well in theory it may work to require licenses, I dont like it.

The reason is simple. Dogs and cats are required to be licensed. Many folks dont do it. It would also make it easier to target the good owners should a ban occur. In this era of banning exotics, I would be hesitant as a regular pet owner to register a pet that has a high chance of getting banned. I get nervous enough when registering my dog who is an american bulldog, but people easily confuse him with being a pit bull. Even though the breeds look completely different.

I think pet stores need to open their mind to the possibility of actually caring about their live stock. I have managed to get a few stores to stop selling baby igs. I have also managed to get a few to start charging around 150.00 for juvenile rescues. I have also gotten people to refer folks to me rather than going to stores.
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Cindy
PHFaust

Email Cindy

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