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New Mexico ALERT!
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by tigers9 on June 4, 2007
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http://www.daily-times.com/ci_6054631
Legality of exotic pets questioned: Pet store owners not happy with looming restrictions
By Andrea Koskey The Daily Times
Article Launched: 06/04/2007 12:00:00 AM MDT
Click photo to enlarge
Joy Sutton, owner of Farmington's House of Pets, holds a... (Lucas Ian Coshenet/The Daily Times)
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FARMINGTON — A regulation restricting exotic animals in New Mexico may see some new light as officials from the Department of Game and Fish seek input to revise the law.
Passed in 1978, state officials say the regulations were not enforced strictly, but they claim in order to protect native animal wildlife the issue needs to be revisited.
"These laws are not new," said Patrick Snider, assistant chief of law enforcement with the Department of Game and Fish. "But we are soliciting input to change some of the restrictions to modify and help businesses."
The pet restrictions would require all owners and businesses importing non-native wildlife in to New Mexico to get a permit for those animals. It's a restriction that may start by the end of the year.
Domesticated dogs and cats will not be affected.
"I'm upset they're trying to do this," said Joy Sutton, owner of Farmington's House of Pets. "By the end of the year, I'm going to need a permit to own any exotic animals: mice, rats, guinea pigs, rabbits."
Sutton's
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small business largely sells tropical fish — which are excluded from the restrictions — but her exotic array of birds, frogs and crabs may soon require a permit.
"I want to get a list going to get these creatures on the exempt list," she said.
The original statute states, "In order to protect game animals, birds and fish against importation of undesirable species and introduction of infections or contagious diseases, it is a misdemeanor to import any live animals, birds or fish into this state, except domesticated animals or domesticated fowl or fish from government hatcheries, without first obtaining a permit from the Department of Game and Fish."
Animals on the prohibited list include box turtles, parakeets, finches, pythons, king snakes, tarantulas, scorpions, some ferrets, chinchillas, tree frogs, dwarf aquatic frogs, iguanas, geckos and saltwater fish, among many other species.
An official list, however, is not final because input is being accepted from business owners in order to make the permitting process smoother.
"This is an education process now with pet stores and the general public," Snider said. "We want to make a list and know what type of animals are commonly imported so that we can fast track them through the permit process."
Owner Tom Summers, of Fur, Fin and Feather, said the restrictions are ridiculous.
"Our first impression is that this seems to be somewhat overboard," he said. "The law is grouping animals of no danger together with the ones they are concerned for. We don't want wild animals to be released and endanger other animals, but it is so hard to defend animals that are non-native."
Summers' most popular selling species are reptiles, therefore his business largely will be affected by the regulations. But monetary damage will not be known until permit fees and requirements are established.
In a New Mexico House initiative, department officials say their concern is that the non-native species could be released into the wild and endanger other wildlife populations.
"An iguana for instance is a tropical species," Summers said. "I was down in Mexico recently and they are running around everywhere down there. I don't think it's possible for an iguana to be let loose in New Mexico, thrive, reproduce and endanger other animals."
Summers also noted government officials referenced recent violations in Florida, where residents released boa constrictors into the wild, endangering other native animals.
"We're not in Florida," Summers said. "I understand that we are a big state and something that can survive here may not be able to in the southern part of the state, but permits for each animal for only a certain amount of time is not going to be economically feasible."
Officials from the Department of Game and Fish, the department enacting the regulations, said it is not their goal to put the little guys out of business.
"That's why we are asking for input of animals that should be excluded from this rule," Special Use Permit Manager Rhonda Holderman said. "We know animals are released into the wild, so we are making sure we are covering our bases, by getting input, while still protecting what we need to protect."
Requirements, fees and time frames for animal permits have yet to be decided, which is why, Holderman said, the department is accepting public comment to help with questions and concerns on the issue.
Public comment on the issue will be heard until July 1. Comments can be sent directly to the Department of Game and Fish by visiting www.wildlife.state.nm.us and clicking on "Public Comment" to submit an e-mail.
Andrea Koskey: akoskey@daily-times.com
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