Source: https://www.paw-talk.net/forums/f95/alert-fight-virginia-ban-61136.html
Timestamp: 2019-04-21 10:15:08+00:00

Document:
If you don't keep 'exotics', please understand that this still isn't 'someone else's problem'. This will affect you for as long as you live in VA, and your children, etc etc. There are small businesses and families that make their living breeding some of the species proposed for listing here, and these animals are NOT dangerous to humans, nor do they pose any environmental threats. If you live in Virginia, in particular, please work to preserve your rights, and the rights of your fellow pet keepers. Licensing of animals that may actually be dangerous is reasonable--banning these species, and many that could never pose a danger, is NOT reasonable.
Proposes to ban ALL Pythons & Boas except Ball Pythons, Angolan Pythons and Green Tree Pythons.
A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 5 of Title 29.1 an article numbered 8, consisting of sections numbered 29.1-578 through 29.1-586, relating to the ownership of dangerous wild animals; penalty.
Conditions on the Ownership of Dangerous Wild Animals.
§ 29.1-578. Possession, sale, transfer, and breeding of certain animals.
a. Family Canidae: all species and hybrids of the genera Canis (wolves and related species), Cuon (dholes), Lycaon (African wild dogs), and Chrysocyon (maned wolves); excluding Canis lupus familiaris (domestic dogs) and Canis lupus familiaris hybrids.
b. Family Felidae: all species and hybrids of the family Felidae (all felids); excluding Felis catus (domestic cats) and Felis catus hybrids.
c. Family Ursidae: all species and hybrids of bears.
d. Family Hyaenidae: all species of hyena and aardwolf.
2. Order Crocodilia: all species of alligators, crocodiles, caimans, and gharials.
3. Order Primates: all species and hybrids of apes, galagos, lemurs, lorises, and monkeys, excluding humans.
4. Order Proboscidea: all species of elephants.
a. Family Atractaspididae: all species and hybrids, such as mole vipers.
b. Family Boidae, to include all species that may be described as family Pythonidae: all species and hybrids of the genera Apodora (pythons), Eunectes (anacondas), Liasis (pythons), Morelia (pythons), and Python (pythons); excluding Morelia viridis (green tree pythons), Python anchietae (Angolan pythons), and Python regius (ball or royal pythons).
c. Family Colubridae: all species and hybrids of the genera Dispholidus (boomslangs), Rhabdophis (keelbacks), and Thelotornis (twig snakes).
d. Family Elapidae, to include all species that may be described as family Hydrophiidae: all species and hybrids, such as cobras, mambas, coral snakes, and sea snakes.
e. Family Viperidae: all species and hybrids, such as rattlesnakes, pit vipers, and puff adders.
1. Facilities accredited or certified by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, facilities that have an active contractual relationship with an American Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan for breeding of species listed as threatened or endangered pursuant to 16 U.S.C. § 1533, or facilities that are actively seeking accreditation or certification by the American Association of Zoos and Aquariums that have a letter of understanding with a mentor institution that is renewed annually.
2. Research facilities, as defined in the Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. § 2132(e)).
3. Facilities accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries with an accreditation status appropriate for the animals held.
4. Circuses, defined as incorporated Class C licensees under the Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. § 2134), that are temporarily in the Commonwealth and that offer scheduled performances by live animals.
5. Federal, state, or local government facilities or agents holding an animal for official purposes.
6. Licensed veterinary establishments temporarily holding an animal for the purpose of providing veterinary treatment.
7. A person temporarily transporting an animal through the state if the transit time is not more than 24 hours, the animal is not exhibited, and the animal is maintained at all times in a species-appropriate cage or other travel container such that there is no opportunity for physical contact with any member of the public.
§ 29.1-580. Conditions for allowable continued possession.
8. At least 72 hours prior to the sale or transfer of an existing dangerous wild animal, shall notify the Department, identifying the recipient of the animal. The possession, sale, transfer, and transport of the dangerous wild animal shall conform to all applicable state, local, and federal laws.
§ 29.1-581. Certain animals not properly confined.
Any animal described in § 29.1-578, excluding noncaptive native populations of wildlife, found to be not properly confined, whether on the property of the owner or running at large, may be humanely destroyed by law-enforcement or animal control officers, or other federal, state, or local agents, in order to protect public safety. The owner or custodian of such an animal will be liable for costs accrued to law-enforcement or animal control agencies in humanely destroying or otherwise securing any such animal.
§ 29.1-582. Forfeiture and disposition of animals possessed in violation of this article.
A. Law-enforcement and animal control officers shall, upon probable cause, impound any or all animals possessed in violation of this article. If such animal does not pose an immediate threat to public safety and is not suffering from apparent animal neglect or cruelty, the animal shall be considered impounded in its enclosure and shall be properly maintained and provided adequate care by the owner until judicial determination of forfeiture. If such animal poses an immediate threat to public safety or is suffering from apparent animal neglect or cruelty, the animal shall be seized by law-enforcement or animal control officers and held in a suitable federal, state, or local facility or other facility exempted from this article in § 29.1-579 until judicial determination of forfeiture.
B. Upon seizing or impounding an animal, the law-enforcement or animal control officer shall petition the general district court in the city or county where the animal is seized or impounded for a hearing. The hearing shall be not more than 10 business days from the date of the seizure or impoundment of the animal. The hearing shall be to determine whether the animal is possessed in violation of this article.
C. Upon judicial determination that (i) the seized or impounded animal is listed in § 29.1-578 and (ii) the owner of the seized or impounded animal is violating any provision of this article with regard to such animal, the animal shall be deemed forfeited.
D. Any animal judicially deemed forfeited pursuant to this article shall as soon as practicable be euthanized by a licensed veterinarian or humanely destroyed as recommended by a licensed veterinarian unless (i) a person legally able to possess the animal and willing and able to take immediate possession of the animal is identified prior to or at the forfeiture hearing, in which case the court may award such person ownership of the animal, or (ii) the court determines that the animal is listed in 50 C.F.R. 17.11 as protected under the Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. § 1531 et seq.), in which case such animal shall be ceded to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
E. A court may order the owner of an animal seized pursuant to this article to post a bond in surety with the locality for the cost of caring for such animal for a period of time not to exceed nine months. If the court orders the posting of a bond in surety, the bond shall be posted with the clerk of the court within five business days after the hearing. If the person ordered to post the bond does not do so, the animal is deemed forfeited.
Nothing in this article shall be construed to prevent the voluntary, permanent relinquishment of any animal by its owner to a person legally able to possess the animal and willing and able to take possession or have such animal euthanized by a licensed veterinarian in lieu of seizure or impoundment. Voluntary relinquishment shall have no effect on any criminal charges that may be pursued by the appropriate authorities concerning possession or treatment of the animal.
§ 29.1-584. Adoption of regulations.
The Board shall adopt regulations to carry out the provisions of this article. The regulations shall include (i) the adoption of registration fees on a sliding scale depending on the number of dangerous wild animals a person possesses prior to July 1, 2012, and (ii) any additional exemptions to this article the Department deems necessary to facilitate management of native or naturalized wildlife.
29.1-585. Department to notify local officials.
The Department shall notify law enforcement officials and animal control officers of the presence in their locality of any lawfully possessed animal that is registered pursuant to subdivision 7 of § 29.1-580. The notice shall include the name of the owner of the animal, his address, and the species of the animal that is registered.
Any person who violates any provision of this article is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.
Do you want to know who to contact to voice your opposition?
HB 1242 has been referred to Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources. Here is a list of who is on the committee and contact info. Please start making phone calls, sending mails, mailing letters, and blowing up fax machines in opposition to HB 1242. Be sure to call, email, and fax more than once, everyday if you can.
• The number one best thing you can do is: EVERYTHING listed below.
With a hand written letter in hand.
• Also very effective is: make an appointment to meet with each member of the committee with a hand written letter addressed to each committee member in hand. Be sure to be polite and well dressed. Even if the person you are meeting with doesn’t agree with what you have to say, be sure to stay calm and represent the herp community in a positive manner.
• Ask friends, family, and co-workers to join you and spend a few hours in Richmond and lobby against both bills. It’s best to make appointments, but if time doesn’t allow for appointments or you are not able to get an appointment with any, than stop in each office and speak with members staff. Again with letters in hand.
• Write letters (hand written letters carry the most weight) to each member on each committee, Delegate Christopher K Peace, and Senator L. Louise Lucas. Letters should be in your own words and no more than one page. Letters don’t need to be long, a short and to the point letter is fine. Be sure you check your spelling, be respectful and polite. If you are typing your letter be sure to hand sign them. Mailing and hand delivering letters will hold more weight than emailing or faxing them. Try to avoid form letters as they carry little to no weight. Using form letters as a guide to writing your letters in fine, but be sure your letter is in your own words so it appears more personal.
• Make phone calls to each member on each committee, Delegate Christopher K Peace, and Senator L. Louise Lucas.
• Petitions carry little to no weight.
Our first goal is to get Delegate Christopher K Peace, and Senator L. Louise to retract their proposed Bills before the committees meet to hear them. It is very important to set appointments and get letters out as soon as possible. If we don’t meet our first goal then the next goal is to have the proposed Bills dismissed by the committees or convince them to send the proposed Bills to scientific study (scientific study would buy us a year). To achieve this we need as many people as possible to be ready to show up at the public hearing with little notice (the hearing dates and time are only posted 24-48 hours before the hearing). We have people who are prepared to speak, but still need bodies to show our numbers as a community.
When you meet with Senators and Delegates be prepared to include escape protocols (they what to know what we would do in the event of a escape).
Be sure to back up any claims you make with facts that you can prove.
Be professional in every possible way. We want them to view our community as professional and responsible.
Even if you don’t own any species on these proposed Bills, get involved now. Just because the species you keep isn’t on the proposed Bills now, doesn’t mean they can’t be added if these Bills get passed. Many other states passed bans that only started with a few species, but now are adding new species every year.
When communicating (in letters or person) with the Senators and Delegates about these proposed Bills, let them know that you opposed to the proposed Bills as they are written, but would be open to a reasonable permit process. This shows we as a community are responsible, reasonable and willing to work on a solution.
I think a permit system would be infinitely better than an outright ban.
However, the exotic community is reaping the rewards of years of greed, overbreeding and selling to unqualified individuals. All of these things have brought us to the point we're now at.
For the animal's sake, I can't say that I'm sorry to see this hobby/industry scaled back.
I think it would be more effective to see the hobby unite and then come up with a viable plan on how to deal with the problems they've got.
But since that's not going to happen, I think we're going to see some really draconian laws before the public's communal memory forgets some of the tragedies of the last few years. JMO.
Do you honestly believe that those few rare tragedies really represent the norm in the exotics community? We have multi-million dollar propaganda machines working against us...are you sure that what you have heard is the truth?
Do you think that 3 foot Children's Pythons need to be restricted as dangerous wild animals?
I think those human tragedies are just the tip of the iceberg for the animal suffering. Relatively few people have suffered and died because of the problems in this hobby, but plenty of unwanted, large snakes and lizards have paid the price.
Burms, Retics, and Balls are just a few of the species that have been overbred because of so many amateur breeders trying to get rich quick by jumping on the morph bandwagon. There are way more snakes than there are homes for. Many get released or escape. Many more just die of neglect.
There are breeders who will sell large boids or large monitors to children at reptile shows and not be completely honest about what kind of committment the child is making. I know, I've seen it.
This is a large hobby with illusions that it's an industry. Unfortunately, there are no ethical standards or regulations. It's just a mishmash of people doing what they want. Some are good and honorable, some are just ignorant and some are criminal.
Until and unless we clean up our mess (and yes I'm part of this hobby), we are going to find the lawmakers are only too happy to score political points by doing it for (and to!) us.
The hobby could learn a lot from what falconry went through in the sixties. Falconers united and worked with the government to regulate themselves. They saved their hobby in a way no one thought possible.
I think it's just a cop out to blame the HSUS or PETA or the media for the failings within this hobby. Sure, they are glad to help, but the real fault lies on our own doorstep. As long as the people in the hobby continue to blame everyone but themselves, nothing will change and the hobby gets close and closer to being regulated out of existence.
Bob, WHERE did you get your information from? It's remarkably inconsistent with everything I know and have seen of the reptile hobby today. Can you provide a source for this? It really does sound just like the rhetoric from the AR groups.
(For example, ball pythons rarely lack homes, and when they do wind up in shelters, they rarely spend much time there before they are adopted--they're very popular pets, easy to care for, and are so much in demand that even the vast captive breeding industry cannot keep up with it, and thousands are imported from Africa each year). No responsible pet owner releases an animal into the wild, and the vast majority of reptile owners, like other pet owners, are RESPONSIBLE.
I'm not saying that the industry is blameless--there are still a lot of problems, and many of them need to be better addressed, but I think you are ignoring how much progress we HAVE made in improving things. Certainly there's been no one selling giant snakes to young children at the expo held here.
Reform could be faster, but it has been happening, and it still is.
But really, this isn't about the blame game...it's much too late for that, and this affects far more than just the Reptile Nation.
HSUS and PETA do not care how many improvements we make, and that has to be understood. We could keep every reptile in its own specially designed greenhouse ecosystem with 24 hour vet care, and it would not be enough to please those groups.
This was never about any of that anyhow. IT IS ABOUT MONEY.
The question is what we do about it NOW--that's a twofold thing. One of the things is 'cleaning up the industry', as you stated, but the second is to stay on top of these legislative attacks and do everything we can to keep them from taking more ground, because they will NEVER stop, and getting back what we have lost is MUCH harder than protecting it in the first place.
What efforts are you, as someone involved in reptile keeping, making to help protect your rights to keep these animals and improve the hobby? If you share them, perhaps others can aid in those efforts as well.
I go to shelters a lot. Virtually every one I go to has a python (or three) at least once/month. Balls as well as Burms. The economy has hit lots of people hard, some turn their animals in, some just leave them when they move out of an apartment or house.
I agree, no responsible pet owner releases a python. However, I know very few breeders that require that the buyers be "responsible". Most just want your money.
Last year, I saw an breeder sell a baby Nile Monitor to a kid about 10 at a reptile show. The kid was not with his parents. The breeder didn't say anything about how big the lizard would get or it's possible temperment. Luckily, the kid was there with a friend of mine's kids. They went back to the breeder and got their money back. This breeder also had a huge tub of baby sulcatas as well as baby burms. He would have sold any of those animals to anyone with the money. This is a breeder that goes to many of the shows throughout the midwest. He buys wholesale babies and sells cheap to people new to the hobby. I think he's an embarassment, but the shows keep letting him have tables and he's a vocal member of many forums and reptile clubs. He's a perfect example of what's wrong with the hobby IMO.
As far as where we go now, I think self regulation is the only answer. Working with congress. No animal has ever come off the injurious listings, ever. But congress could do it with the stroke of a pen.
The only other option I see, would be to take all the lobby money being given USARK and commission a scientific study from a large, reputable university that would refute the USGS study. A bigger, better, peer reviewed study that discredits the first one could crack open that door. Otherwise I think we are just going to have to wait until the political climate changes, ...and hope that until then, no one has an "accident" that shoots us in the foot again.
I agree, there are a few bad eggs out there who are spoiling the pot for everyone else. They're definitely a minority, but they're definitely present. The best thing to do is inform the folks holding the Expo. Perhaps they don't realize the extent of the problem--they deserve the chance to do something about it.
I see a lot of folks complaining about issues...but they complain to other people who aren't involved, and they keep silent when it comes to telling those who could actually do something about it. If you see something WRONG going down--tell someone in a position of authority. If there's a sick or neglected animal in a pet store, REPORT it to the proper authorities. If someone at an expo is selling sick animals, undersized turtles, whatever--TELL the people holding the expo. Make a fuss over it until something is done. Confrontation may be uncomfortable, but failure to do it when needed is complicity.
Everyone can make a mistake sometime, but if it's clearly a habit, and they don't correct it, then they need to be censured in some way.
As for reptiles in shelters--the species that are most difficult to place are the giants, and aquatic turtles. While you may certainly see smaller reptiles there, you won't often see them STAY there. Any pet could wind up in a shelter if its owner has an emergency and cannot care for it. Seeing them in shelters just means that lots of people have them. The question is how long they STAY there.
2 or 3 snakes isn't a huge number of animals... particularly if they're being adopted out as quickly as they show up. That does not indicate that there's an excessive population of them, especially in difficult times like these.
If huge numbers of them were being surrendered and weren't being adopted out, and had to be euthanized in large numbers, THAT would indicate an overpopulation problem.
I do commend your local shelters for accepting reptiles, as many shelters will not.
As for USARK, they have been instrumental in stopping large numbers of State bans, and they did help reduce the number of species affected on a Federal level as well. I do believe they have a chance of winning their lawsuit against FWS, and they have my full support.
I don't have any Burms, but I do have a pair of super-dwarf retics, and I would hate to have to leave them behind when I move back to Wyoming in a few years. I would hate even more to see this all escalate until everything that's not a cat or dog is banned, and then watch us lose those two, a breed at a time.

References: § 29
 § 1533
 § 2132
 § 2134

§ 29

§ 29
 § 29

§ 29
 § 29
 § 29
 § 1531

§ 29
 § 29
in fine