Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I found a link on a Regulation Proposal. I personally thought it was pretty good, but thought I would add it in here for comment.

Regulation Proposal

Suggested State/County/Local Regulations
For the Keeping and Maintenance of
Venomous Snakes and Lizards, Large Boids &
Crocodilians

This proposal is intended to provide a set of
standards that a State/County/Local government can
adopt to regulate the acquisition, keeping and
maintenance of venomous snakes and lizards, large
boids (such as Burmese Pythons) and Crocodilians.
These standards would be a means of allowing reptile
enthusiasts to pursue their hobby of keeping these
animals while also reducing the concerns of both the
reptile-related scientific community and non-reptile
enthusiasts (people who do not enjoy keeping reptiles
as companion-type animals). It is well known that
inexperienced reptile enthusiasts, at times, make
mistakes and cause serious concern among people. Some
of these concerns would be:

1. Large pythons and other Boids escaping from their
enclosures, roaming the neighborhoods and casting fear
upon other residents. These same pythons have been
known to kill their inexperienced keepers by mistaking
them for prey items.

2. Venomous snakes escaping from their enclosures due
to the inexperience of some reptile keepers, thereby
causing a real danger to themselves and other
residents and their pets in these same areas.

3. Crocodilians escaping from their enclosures, again
due to the inexperience of their keepers, and, again,
causing unnecessary fear and concern among local
residents.

The facts listed above are just some of the reasons
we have drawn up these Suggested State/County/Local
Regulations to solve what has become a major
controversy over the past several years. We as
responsible reptile handlers/keepers fully understand
and indeed share the concerns of others as to what
happens when inexperienced, immature or thoughtless
people allow reptiles that are potentially dangerous
to come into unwanted contact with other people, their
families or pets. We cringe whenever we hear the
television news, or read the front page of our local
newspapers, and learn that a careless individual has
allowed their fifteen foot Burmese Python to escape
and it has subsequently terrified other local
residents. We are not only concerned for these
people’s safety, but concerned as well as to the
future of what will become of what is nothing short of
a passion to us.

As responsible reptile keepers, we feel that our
animals are our companions. We also realize that many
people do not feel as we do about reptiles, especially
snakes. However, just as the dog, cat, fish or bird
“owner” has the right and the privilege to keep their
beloved companion in their home with them to enjoy, we
believe as well that we, too, should have the right
and the same privilege to keep our beloved creatures
in our homes to enjoy. Therefore it is our intention
as well as our hope that these Suggested
State/County/Local Regulations can alleviate the
controversy, or at the least, greatly lessen this
conflict, and find a suitable compromise that will
satisfy a majority of the people on both sides of this
sensitive issue.

Template for Suggested State Regulations

The following reptiles cannot be purchased, sold,
traded or acquired in any way by an individual without
a valid permit issued by the State/County/Local
government of (insert name here). Furthermore, these
reptiles shall be considered Potentially Dangerous
Animals:

The following large snakes in the Boidae Family:
Boa constrictor imperator- Common Boa
Boa constrictor constrictor- Red tail Boa
Boa constrictor longicauda- Long tailed Boa
Boa constrictor occidentalis -Argentine Boa
Boa constrictor ortonii- Orton's Boa
Apodora papuana- Papuan Python
Eunectes murinus- Anaconda
Eunectes notaeus- Yellow Anaconda
Liasis olivaceous olivaceous- Olive Python
Liasis Olivaceous Barroni - Western Olive
Python, Pilbara Olive Python
Morelia Amethistina- Amethyst Python, Scrub Python
Morelia boeleni- Boelen's Python, Black Python
Morelia/Liasis Oenpelli- Oenpelli Rock Python
Python molurus- Burmese Python
Python Reticulata- Reticulated Python
Python sabae sabae - African Rock Python

Any venomous species of Snake or Lizard:
The following species of Snakes and lizards shall be
considered venomous:
Any snake within the Viperidae Family (i.e
Rattlesnakes, Gaboon Vipers, etc.)
Any snake within the Elapidae Family (i.e. Cobras,
Mambas, Kraits, etc.)
Atractaspididae Family (Mole Vipers, Stiletto
Snakes)
Psammophis (Sand Racers)
Rhabdophis (Keelback Snakes)
Dispholidus (Boomslangs)
Thelatornis (Twig Snakes)
Helodermatidae (Gila Monsters, Beaded Lizards)

Any Crocodilian species

Persons wishing to obtain a permit for any of the
above listed animals must meet the following
requirements:

A. Person shall provide proof by means of a written
test that they have a full understanding/knowledge of
the animal’s inherent nature/disposition, food, water
and housing requirements, and dangers/risks involved
in keeping of said animal.

B. Person shall provide physical proof in the form of
a photograph that they have in their possession
adequate housing for said animal that meets size and
safety requirements for that animal, or a valid
receipt of purchase from a local merchant for a
manufactured cage/enclosure meeting adequate housing
and safety requirements.

C. Person shall pay all fees for tests, applications
and permits as required by State/County/Local
Authorities prior to any permit or permits being
issued. A Permit issued for any Potentially Dangerous
Animal shall include any and all animals which fall
under that specific category. Permit fees and
schedules shall be as follows:
Permit fee for keeping/handling large Boids to be
renewed annually. (Suggested permit fee - $10.00)
Permit fee for keeping/handling Crocodilians to be
renewed annually. (Suggested permit fee - $15.00)
Permit fee for keeping/handling Venomous snakes or
lizards to be renewed annually. (Suggested permit fee
- $20.00)

D. In the event that an animal does indeed escape by
any fault of its permitted keeper, and said animal is
found anywhere off-site of the owner's property, said
permit shall be immediately revoked, and future permit
or permits shall not be approved for a period of (how
many years?), after which time said permit may be
reinstated, provided no serious physical harm to any
persons resulted from such animal's escape. Any
fines/punishments shall be enforced by the
State/County/Local Judicial system.

E. In the case of keeping and handling of venomous
snakes or lizards, each person desiring a permit must
be Venomous Certified to keep and handle venomous
snakes or lizards. The (State?) requirements for
obtaining Venomous Certification are as such:

Certification of any person desiring to acquire and
keep venomous snakes or lizards shall consist of a
minimum of five hundred (500) hours of training
under the supervision of (State?)-approved personnel
experienced in the handling and husbandry of venomous
snakes or lizards. Said personnel shall be deemed
approved by the (State?) as “experts” in the handling
and husbandry of venomous snakes and/or lizards.
Persons which the (State?) may consider as qualified
to administer training may be those belonging to or
employed by:
Zoos
Animal Rescue/Rehabilitation Facilities
Museums (Natural History or similar)
Herpetological Societies/Associations/Organizations
Wildlife Sanctuaries/Parks
Any other persons with reasonable experience and
knowledge of handling/keeping venomous snakes and/or
lizards.

Certification of persons in the keeping/handling of
venomous snakes and/or lizards shall be available
within four (4) separate categories. Each category
shall require a minimum of five hundred (500) hours of
training by (State?)-approved personnel. Persons
seeking permits for any two (2), three (3) or all four
(4) of the categories below shall receive the minimum
hours of training for each category. Therefore, a
person seeking to obtain certification for two (2)
categories shall require a minimum of 1,000 (1,000)
hours of training, a person seeking certification in
three (3) categories shall receive a minimum of
fifteen hundred (1,500) hours of training, and a
person seeking certification in all four (four)
categories shall receive a minimum of 2,000 hours of
training. These categories shall be as follows:

Category I:
Keeping/Handling of Lizards in the Heloderma
Family, which would be Gila Monsters and/or Beaded
Lizards. Minimum 500 hours of training.

Category II:
Keeping/Handling of snakes within the Viperidae
Family, including, but not limited to, Rattlesnakes,
Copperheads, Cottonmouths (Water Moccasins), True
Vipers. Minimum 500 hours of training.

Category III:
Keeping/Handling of venomous Colubrids such as
Psammophis (Sand Racers), Rhabdophis (Keelback
Snakes), Dispholidus (Boomslangs), Thelatornis (Twig
Snakes). Minimum 500 hours of training.

Category IV:
Keeping/Handling of snakes within the Elapidae
Family, including but not limited to, Cobras, Mambas
and Kraits. Minimum 500 hours training.

F. Persons seeking to be certified in the keeping of
venomous snakes and/or lizards are responsible for
paying for required training by (State?)approved
experts, with such fees set by the personnel that
shall be implementing the training program for
desiring individuals.

G. Persons that receive a permit or permits allowing
them to keep any potentially dangerous animal(s) must
advise the following agencies that they retain such
permit or permits, and that they will be keeping
animals that fall within the respective permit
categories:
Local Law Enforcement Authorities
Local Animal Control Offices (or similar)
Local Fire department(s)
Local Ambulance Service(s)
Information of individuals obtaining and maintaining
above stated permits will be kept strictly
confidential and will not be released to the public
or to the media unless a court order is presented.
Keeping these records private will ensure the
protection of individuals with said permit(s) and
their respective collections of animals from criminal
action.

H. All animals kept by person(s) prior to these
State/County/Local Regulations coming into effect
shall be exempt from these regulations, provided such
persons having in their possession any venomous
species of snakes and/or lizards can provide proof of
a minimum of three (3) years prior experience in the
keeping/handling of such animals.
Regulation Proposal

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U.A.P.P.E.A.L.
Uniting A Proactive Primate and Exotic Animal League

Having proof of means to pay for health care in the case of envenomation might also be good.

I only scanned it, but proof of a willing attending veterinarian should be standard. Dangerous animals shouldn't be neglected when sick.

I also found it interesting that boa constrictors were on your list. I live in a province with probably the strictest allowances on animals, that in my opinion, actually make sense, and still, we are allowed boas. (unlike the province over that won't allow a 2 foot boid, but will allow a 15 ft croc!?)

I'd say that's my two cents, but since I don't keep crocs, hots, or big boids, it'll be my one cent

Ian

This isn't MY list. This isn't something that I threw together. I came across while going through websites, and happened to think that it was pretty good. I agree with what you said, but didn't want anyone to think that I wrote this proposal.

Chris

>>I only scanned it, but proof of a willing attending veterinarian should be standard. Dangerous animals shouldn't be neglected when sick.
>>
>>I also found it interesting that boa constrictors were on your list. I live in a province with probably the strictest allowances on animals, that in my opinion, actually make sense, and still, we are allowed boas. (unlike the province over that won't allow a 2 foot boid, but will allow a 15 ft croc!?)
>>
>>I'd say that's my two cents, but since I don't keep crocs, hots, or big boids, it'll be my one cent
>>
>>Ian
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U.A.P.P.E.A.L.
Uniting A Proactive Primate and Exotic Animal League

Just glacing through it, it seems there are just way too many problems with this. I’ll address some of the problems I noticed right off.
First, I don't agree that the boas should be on the list. Has anyone ever heard of a boa killing someone (Anaconda's excluded)? Then it talks of a compenancy test. Where will that come from and who will administer/correct it? Provide physical proof such as a picture? No entity will go for that. An inspection would have to be in order. Permit fee schedule…how does that work for someone that wants to have 20, 30, 100 animals? Perhaps a blanket permit option might be in order. Next beef, and this is a big one….state approved personel for training? Who in the state is going to determine an expert when nobody within the entity has any idea themselves? And any yahoo at a rescue can be a self-proclaimed expert and can probably convince the average moron that they are (yes, I am speaking from experience with some of these yahoos). Next…500 hours training? Sure there is a lot to learn in the beginning, and yes there is a lot of continued handling experience necessary, but 500 hours? It would end up being like a firearms class I took in college. A course that is often taught in a weekend, 16 hours worth, was dragged out for a semester totalling 64 hours. We went home early most classes, and talked about local news most of the time we were there. I think 500 hours will get awfully redundant and may even become counter-productive. Not only that, what do you do if you live in an area that has no “experts”? The nearest “training facility” to here would be 400 miles away. Not very fair if you ask me. And finally, gov’t entities are LAZY. The amount of man hours and paperwork it would take to implement and enforce this would be a legistical nightmare for them and they will never go for it (speaking from experience again).
Now don’t get me wrong, I do agree that a unified code would be nice as would just having something to present when these issues arise on a local level. But personally, I don’t think this is the one.