Play it Safe

[medusasowl]

Firstly, if you keep ANY exotic pets -basically anything that isn't a cat or a dog - you'll be wanting to follow this link. I can't imagine this stupidity will pass, but can't be too careful when it comes to maintaining the right to keep our fur, scale, and feather kids. They're part of our families. Below is a vid Brian of BHB (who I'm getting

Comments

I had,..

[ngb2k]

... just a few days ago a discussion about this "pipe dream" bill, and how it's actually impossible to set this bill into realtiy in a country like the USA.
Just imagine the following scenario. Police officers entering your house to take you pets away who are declared by the bill as an alien species.
Remind now two things: A) pet owners are willing to spend thousands of dollars on the health of their beloved pets. B) Guns are legal to own in the USA.
Such raids to get the pets from pet owners will went in 99 of the cases well, and the police is able to take the pets away from their owners. But the 100th time it will end in a major shootout. Mulitply that with pet owners over the whole country, and you get a civil war like situation.
That would be a disasterous situation for every politican who wants to stay in power after the next elections. ^_^

Re: I had,..

[medusasowl]

Yup. It's incredibly stupid. The important thing for us right now is to make sure our representatives actually read the bill and realize everything you said. So we don't have to go through a whole long stupid overturning process. :P Because, sadly, our politicians often go in blind. It's labeled as an "environmental protection" bill and some of them do just skim. So the more we poke them to pay attention, the more stupid we can avoid. ;P

Re: I had,..

[ngb2k]

... Actually the term alien species would also apply to house cats(their origin was somewhere on north west Africa or the Middle East), but also cattle(origin Europe(Aurochs), Asia and Africa), and finally horses who have their origins in Asia and Europe(the Northern American horse population got extincted over 10 000 years ago). If someone is argueing that horses are no alien species in Northern America. Then you widen the evolutionary time-span for what's an alien species. Actually the exctinction of the Northern American horse gets connected with the arrival of another alien species on the Northern American continent around the same time. The most dangerous alien species of all: The Human. :D

Re: I had,..

[medusasowl]

Exactly!!

[blainemuffin]

If you actually read the text it says that animals legally owned before that species is assessed and determined to be a risk to the environment can't be taken away. I think the idea behind the bill is more about protecting the environment from things like Chytridiomycosis happening rather than taking away everybody's animals. If somebody had assesed the African clawed frog before bringing it into the states our frog population wouldn't be decimated. The idea is to actually see if animals being imported would cause a problem if they were somehow accidentally released into the environment. It also doesn't include non-native species which are already established in the US even if they are causing harm.

Plus I don't think any sane scientific study would determine most of our furry, scaly, and feathered friends to be risks to the environment and/or economy.

[medusasowl]

Yeah, they can't take the ones we already have but it would pretty much ensure that they'd be the *last* we could ever own if noone can breed or sell them. I understand the intention, but this bill goes WAY overboard, in a nonsensical borderline Peta style. So better to shoot it down altogether.

[glitterberrys]

Awww, poor Daphne. I get grumpy when I have a toofache too.

Dunno what jackass would look at a guinea pig and go THREAT TO OUR ENVIRONMENT.

[medusasowl]

Yeah, me too. Poor bunbun! We caught it pretty early tho, and she's a happy girl now sitting right next to my chair. :)

And yeah, I can see people being concerned about nonnative species, like all the problems Australia has had with abandoned animals, but cats have a MUCH bigger impact than any of those on the list. It's ridiculous, and punishing all pet owners for the irresponsible few.

[medusasowl]

Yay for Rudy!

Yeah, I didn't see bunnies on there either, I guess they're counting them as a native species even though there are so many different kinds. Yeah, very stupid. :P Here's hoping our reps realize that too.

[dahliablue]

I'm so glad you have a good vet. They're like gold.

That bill is ridiculous. I understand the intent, but it's a very slippery slope that could be abused.

[medusasowl]

They really are! <3

And yeah, I get the intent too but the bill is so very very flawed. It's gotta go.