Reptile & Amphibian Forums

U.S. Program to Spy on Internet Animal Sales:

In light of what we now know regarding the additional and restrictive ruling that may soon be added to the Animal Welfare Act, this is starting to really make sense, & the writing on the wall is becoming even more clear....

Remember the maximum $500 PER YEAR amount that you can make selling your animals before you trigger the "commercial breeder" clause, and all of the expensive upgrades, inspections, permits, and fees that it will require ? Here is how they will be able to keep track of everyone; even small-town newspapers are now online. And the government has recently hired several thousand new IRS employees...

This is not about animal welfare or preventing animal abuse. This is all about control - of the U.S. human population by its own government !!

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/03/27/u-s-trial-program-would-spy-on-internet-users-to-prevent-animal-abuse/
Link to Article

You do realize that under the A&W act, reptiles and amphibians are exempt from the regulations?
from http://www.animallaw.info/statutes/stusawa.htm

g) The term "animal" means any live or dead dog, cat, monkey (nonhuman primate mammal), guinea pig, hamster, rabbit, or such other warm-blooded animal, as the Secretary may determine is being used, or is intended for use, for research, testing, experimentation, or exhibition purposes, or as a pet; but such term excludes (1) birds, rats of the genus Rattus, and mice of the genus Mus, bred for use in research, (2) horses not used for research purposes, and (3) other farm animals, such as, but not limited to livestock or poultry, used or intended for use as food or fiber, or livestock or poultry used or intended for use for improving animal nutrition, breeding, management, or production efficiency, or for improving the quality of food or fiber. With respect to a dog, the term means all dogs including those used for hunting, security, or breeding purposes;

Even if you sell more than $500 a year, by definition under the act, reptiles and amphibians are exempt.......

Some comments,

Ed

Good observation, Ed!

"by definition under the act, reptiles and amphibians are exempt......."

That may be true for now. Three different USDA inspectors have told me recently, that herps are being looked at for inclusion in the AWA.

I also remember when burmese pythons could be moved across state lines, not so long ago.

"....first they came for the Jews, but I did nothing because I was not a Jew...."

just sayin'

While I worked at a Zoo for almost the last 20 years, I spoke with the inspectors more than once about this topic and they have been saying that reptiles and amphibians have been considered for protection under the act for the last 20 years.......

Ed

I should also add that if you read the current proposal to modify the A&W act, it also exempts cold blooded animals (reptiles, amphibians and fish).....

Ed

The term "animal" means any live or dead dog

Well, there goes my dead-dog-selling business.
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Chris McMartin
www.mcmartinville.com
I'm Not a Herpetologist, but I Play One on the Internet