?? BILL HR669!!!!

What the heck?….

Actually, that site and the youtube video are a bit misleading.

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h111-669 is the full text of the bill (it isn’t long as bills go, so go ahead and read the entire thing). They aren’t banning all non-native species, no questions asked. Animals that pose no harm to the environment/economy/public, etc. will be on an exemption list (like guinea pigs, hamsters, common birds, etc.). The idea is things that might pose an issue, like some exotic fish (not like what you would NORMALLY find in a fish tank, like a northern skunkhead) that some people try to bring in as food or to bring in for offerings (by releasing them into the wild) would cause.

Not necessarily as frightening/big brother as the videos would make you believe, but the question does come up as to what would end up on the lists, though I doubt that many of the pets you commonly find in pet stores, including birds, fish and reptiles, would end up there. Some might require permits though, like some states require for certain pets already (like some snakes, ferrets, etc.).

Thanks, Siberakh1, I was just about to post the link to the bill. You saved me from looking for it =)

I sought out the bill after seeing the video (which I felt was a little heavy on trying to instill fear [OK, a lot heavy]), and after reading it I’m not so sure this bill is such a bad thing. I find it a complicated issue which I can see cons and pros for (especially when considering the impact of invasive species). However, without even knowing which animals are “making the list”, so to speak, if the bill passes, I’m not too worried about the government trying to euthanize my angel fish. 🙂

I see what they are trying to accomplish. Hopefully there will be some editing before it’s passed.
I also think a bill that requires breeders to be registered and charges a fee that goes back into some sort of rescue fund would be a good step. A license fee per animal produced or something of that nature. Instead of charging owners, I think the breeders should be required to licence the animals.

Are you currently on post? If so, they should be grandfathered in (to not be booted off post) and if not I would raise hell about it. I could understand someone wanting to bring a new animal in, but if they are already have the animal in base housing they shouldn’t be able to say oh the animal has to go now.

Ouch! This sort of thing happening here in Canada is of big concern, because I own several different exotic pets. And once we move into the country, I hope to own even more exotic ones (A river otter is top of the list, followed by a serval). I’m all for people having to get a permit or license, and I’d have no qualms about doing that. I don’t mind having to prove that I know what I’m doing. 😛 But outight bans are bad. All that does is force people who are truly determined to go underground and keep their animals illegally. I fully understand the whole exotic/invasive pet problem, but honestly… most of them won’t survive their first winter. *laugh* Hell, all of mine wouldn’t last a day! They are way too accustomed to eating from a dish. 😛

For those curious, I own several types of non venemous snakes, lemmings, possum, hedgehogs, african rats. After this weekend… I will add at least three more species.