New York to Ban All Wild and Captive Prop. Animals

[MaryHM]

Here we go again guys....

NY is putting forth some ridiculous legislation and trying to push it through QUICKLY. AB 7375/SB 4755 provide that “no person shall possess, harbor, sell, barter, transfer, exchange or import any wild animal for use as a pet in New York State.” Wild animals are defined for purposes of this prohibition as “any live animal that is wild by nature, whether bred in the wild or in captivity and whether or not native to New York State.” Read: No more wild caught or captive bred fish or corals!! CRAZY, ISN'T IT???


Your help is needed immediately! Because there is power in numbers (as shown by everyone's help with the California Caulerpa Ban), I urge you to contact the New York officials even if you aren't from that state. When this legislation visits your area, you're going to want everyone's help, so PITCH IN!! If you are from New York, I urge you to get involved NOW.


Go to www.reefsource.com to read the details.

[FishKid]

HOLY $#!T!!! THAT ONE HITS CLOSE TO HOME!!!! SO THAT MEANS

“no person shall possess

That means if it is passed, anyone who has an animal will be breaking a law? cat, dog, bird, fish? whats that supposed to mean, everyone who has an animal has to get rid of it? I am getting all of my LFS's to write petitions!

mark

ok... i responded frantically without reading the article. So we are only allowed to keep the boring animals huh? I hate the government!

[chromis]

what bull****, do they have any idea what kind of an impact they could have on the entire pet industry? That could shut down entire pet stores. I am not in New York but still that is a bunch of ****. Not just fish either. Wolves and dogs are the same species so does this make dogs illegal? I hope they dont pass this. How could they ban all fish? Yeah, Im sure that would get them re-elected. Pretty much everyone has at least owned a goldfish. This makes me real mad. To think I used to like the ASPCA

ANdrew

[FishKid]

the ASPCA are just a bunch of losers who think if a dog wasnt fed the right amount of what, that it is abuse, to bad they dont have people like that for all those third world countries! I wrote my senator about it! I urge everyone else to! I am going to write up a petition and bring it to my LFS!!!

mark

[Biomanjcs72]

MArk, unless you got your DAD or MOM to sign the letter, I suspect the senator will ignore it. They like their constituents to at least be voting age before they listen to them (Get a copy of "Summertime Blues", listen to it, you'll understand.)

But regardless, this is more absurd than the caulerpa ban in CA.

[FishKid]

i didnt write the petition yet, both of my parents would sign it, my friends parents would, everyone at the lfs would, and i will drop them off at other LFS's...

mark

[thezookeeper]

This is a horrible possible ban indeed! I belong to another BB for Macaws and Parrots and they are petitioning as well. So hopefully we'll have many different pet groups active in this. While I do not live in NY, I am concerned none the less. If it happens there, it could happen anywhere.


Joanne

[SPasse]

Mary,

I will make this post a sticky so it will stay at the top of the forum.

Please forward any additional information that you come across.

Regards,

Scott Passe

[scubadude]

Hi Mary

First off I want to thank you for pushing forth the calerpa issue, you have proved to be a great representative for us Im not trying to make your job any harder but if you could put a petition like you did on the calerpa issue that way we can just print it out and sign it and fax it then this would definately be able to stir things up alot easier....there are alot of ppl that will get involved it they understand that all they have to do is print, sign, and fax! Im ready to sign on the dotted line right NOW! but im afraid to type something out for the fear of using the wrong verbage and some politician just throwing it away! again thanx for the headsup!

[Ninong]

It does not appear that they really intend to include fish (or other aquatic animals that we keep in our reef tanks) or birds in their legislation.

The problem is that their definition of "wild animal" is far too general. The good news is that fish and birds are not listed in the examples given as animals that will be verboten.

Here is the text of the bill: http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?bn=A07375&sh=t

Ninong

[FishKid]

This law would prohibit only the possession of wild animals as pets, and would not effect the lawful possession of animals by licensed zoological facilities, exhibitors, research facilities, licensed veterinarians, incorporated human societies and animal shelters in New York State

just get a liscence

mark

[Ninong]

You would only be eligible to get a license if you were a zoo, an exhibitor (which you are NOT), a research facility, a vet, or a humane society. But again, it is obvious what they are trying to keep out, it's just that they have to reword their definition of "wild animal" or expand their list of exempt families.

Ninong

[FishKid]

what is an exhibitor? i though it ment someone who does something just for fun... Oh well, shows how strong my vocabulary is...

mark

[ranaman]

Well it bans dart frogs, most newt species, toads as poisonous amphibans. Note that things can be banned for public health reasons, there go parrots. iguanas, turtles, anything that might harbor a disease that humans might catch. Just up to the state to determine. Since the bill dosen't say it can't I would say it could apply to morays and lionfish.
"Some people rob you with a gun, others use a fountain pen." ballad of pretty boy floyd, Woody Guthrie

[Ninong]

Someone who does something for the "love" of doing it is an ama-teur!;; So I guess that's you!

Ninong

[Ninong]

Hi ranaman ~

If you read their background for the bill, it seems that they are really after tigers, cheetahs, monkeys, venomous snakes, constrictors, etc., but the wording is terrible. I wonder why they decided to consider ferrets safe, considering all the reported attacks on infants.

While they're at it, I'm sure someone will propose a ban on Pitbulls--not that I would cry over that one. And if they decide to pick and choose among marine animals, they could start with the Blue Ringed Octopus and virtually all Stonefish. But then, what about Lionfish?

The whole thing is a Pandora's box. They should specifically spell out exactly which species, or at least which families, are to be banned and not try to define "wild animal." At the very least, they should greatly expand the list of examples of covered animals and exempt animals.

But remember the logic Sacramento used when faced with a similar dilemma: if our inspectors cannot easily distinguish Caulerpa taxifolia from other species of Caulerpa, I guess we'll have to ban them all.



Ninong

[FishKid]

yeah, i guess monkees kind of do resemble fish

they should completely revise that, and make a second listing of animals, legal to be kept, if you have a permit/ attend a class on their care...

mark

[ranaman]

Reading this bill you must realize just because your paranoid doesn't mean they aren't out to get you. Having been turned in twice at work for our "starving" koi (we sell fish food to feed them ) so when people walk over the bridge the koi come wanting to be fed. Fortunately we are not in Orange county where the local humane society is deputized to enforce animal welfare rules. I had one little old lady complain that my blue front amazons were chained and trapped in their nest box. The animal control officer who came to investigate asked whether I asked her to stick her hand in the box to feel for chains. I have a scar from a bite from the male, OH MY GOSH , I have a dangerous animal at least untill he was stolen about three years ago.
Having kept large pythons , venomous snakes, and currently keeping dart frogs I can say they aren't for everyone but your life is more in danger from a teenager down the street(we still let them drive).
The dart frog thing is also made worse since long term captives and captive born darts are non toxic since they don't have access to the wild insects that have the alkaloid precursers to make the toxins. But then as PIJAC points out all amphibians have skin toxins. Then there is what is a venomous snake debate. Are hognose snakes venomous? Are ringneck snakes venomous? Are NA garter snakes venomous? I don't know if you have heard but there are several envenomations from the western wandering garter snake. As the late Sherman Minton said at a herp conference these bites only happen to you people (the herpers) .
As a long time herper what really bothers me is the implied ban of iguanas and turtles to protect the public from the danger of Salmonella. This could be applied to mycobaterium that is found in aquaria. Better start before i get in full rant. BTW if I remember right one of the breeds of dogs that have killed large amount of humans is the daschund.

[FishKid]

I think they are out to get us! The salmonella is from not keeping the turtle tank clean, the people that get it from turtles didnt have the water filtered enough.

I against the banning of animals, becuase there are a few on that list (cayman, ameican alligator [when i get rich of course ]) that my parents wont let me have as long as I live under this roof!

mark

[coralman]

ranaman what do you mean by "we still let them drive" i know some teens are horrible drivers ,but i think i am a good driver.