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Petition Against Florida Venomous Regulation
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by SimplySnakes on September 4, 2006
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The following is a Petition being sent around here in Florida reguarding the PIT tagging of all exotic venomous and other Reptiles Of Concern (certain pythons, monitors, tegus,etc.). The proposed law can be viewed at : myfwc.com (Florida Game and Fish Comm.)
Not only does the law require the tagging of neonate venomous snakes within 10-15 days of birth but the removal of said snakes from cages to be restrained so that GFC officers can scan the snakes when random inspections are done. This not only puts the keeper at risk of envenomation, but also the officer, and the vet who PIT tags the snakes when they are aquired. The PIT tag itself is another concern due to it's size and the injection into a small neonate venomous snake such as a Eyelash Viper or Monacle Cobra would be devastating to the animals.
Please pass this information along to others who would possibly help us here in Florida by signing the petition online at the Jacksonville Herpetological Society website : www.jaxherp.org
Below is a copy of the actual petition...
Petition to Stop Proposed Laws and Regulations concerning Reptiles of Concern
We, the undersigned Florida residents are appalled that a few select groups, or powerful person(s) are able to without due scientific study, or even legitimate studied facts are attempting to effect legislation both locally and statewide. Further, that those same person(s) and groups are asking for laws to be passed on their own views and without study and without correct verifiable proof.
“Currently there are an estimated 7.3 million reptile-owning households in the US. There are 50-55 million households with dogs and cats as pets (Doug Mader, DVM, DABVP).” From HSUS “there are 6-8 million cats and dogs entering shelters each year.” Based on a study completed by UF Gainesville Florida; “there is an estimated of 40-60 million feral cats in the US, and some 15 million cats in Florida which spend all or part of their time outside preying on wild life. It is estimated that cats kill as many as 271 million small mammals and 68 million birds each year in Florida with many of these members of threatened and endangered species (Hatley)”
Yet based on a sensationalized story and actual numbers per Skip Snow, a wildlife biologist at Everglades National Park ….. Between 1995-2005 a 10 year period an actual 212 Burmese pythons were captured and removed from the park. That is not 212 million or 212 thousand. Just 212 total over a 10 year period, or 21 a year. Or could that number have been 210 in 1995 and 2 in 2005 …. I think you get the point. It took 10 years to have a number.
Yet, there is 15 million cats preying on Florida’s wildlife.
Included in the legislation also is a recommendation of Pit tagging the proposed Reptiles Of Concern (ROC) and all non-indigenous venomous reptiles. This recommendation must have come from someone without any medical knowledge, and without concern with the humans that would have to come in full contact with these venomous animals. More than one vet has stated that it will most likely will harm or kill the smaller venomous species of reptiles. This is an unnecessary risk when there are other methods such as photography. And, who will be paying those kinds of costs for not only the animal but the humans possible death risk because of having to provide the proposed pit tagging per legislation? There has not been a problem with venomous reptiles in Florida. Based on the numbers provided there isn’t a problem with non-venomous reptiles either. What animals that have escaped due to hurricanes or mishandling are such miniscule numbers compared to the real threat to our environment…. That being both domesticated and feral cats and dogs, and humans laying waste via chemical poisoning, fertilizers, pesticides, and chemically treated waste water, sewers, and septic tanks poisoning the environment we live in. So, should we be spinning our wheels wasting tax payers’ monies on useless and ultimately unenforceable laws that arose out of certain persons groups or media sensationalizing and twisting facts. We implore Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and our public representatives to be prudent in its efforts to regulate. We suggest that the laws we already have are sufficient but require funding to enforce. We do not need more laws. Further, we recommend that our legislators and FWC form a working group including industry members, to develop, determine, establish and promulgate a specific set of standards to consider and review a species before adding it to a list that will affect so many Floridians in so many ways. This study should have not only a verbal but scientific basis before legislating what should happen. If we can’t afford the study, then we can’t afford the laws, rules and regulations either past, present or proposed future.
Two entities are behind the proposed regulation, the HSUS and PETA. Both organizations feel it cruel to keep animals in captivity. This was confirmed at the Gainesville Florida meeting that I attended held by GFC when a activist stood up at the podeum and brought forth 1000 letters from other activists petitioning to ban the posession of ALL exotic animals in the state of Florida. If this passes in the state of Florida ( a well regulated and permitted state) your state could be next, give them a inch, they'll take a mile!
Sincerely,
Paul R. Moody
Ocala, Florida
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RE: Petition Against Florida Venomous Regulation
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by MoccasinMan on September 4, 2006
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Paul,
Let me know if there is any way NCARK or myself can help.
Andrew Wyatt
NC Association of Reptile Keepers
www.NCARK.org
andrew@ncark.org
252-207-1041
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RE: Petition Against Florida Venomous Regulation
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by MoccasinMan on September 7, 2006
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I've been trying to keep track of progress. The link to the petition no longer works.
Andrew
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RE: Petition Against Florida Venomous Regulation
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by SimplySnakes on September 8, 2006
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The Jax society has emailed us and said the page has disappeared, not sure why or how. I am trying to see if it is going back up.
Paul
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