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The HSUS Calls for Comprehensive State and Federal
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by tigers9 on August 10, 2009
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http://www.hsus.org/web-files/PDF/wildlife/fwc_hsus_pythons_081009.pdf
http://www.hsus.org/press_and_publications/press_releases/hsus_calls_for_state_and_federal_action_on_large_constrictors_081009.html
The HSUS Calls for Comprehensive State and Federal Action on Large Constrictor Snakes
August 10, 2009
Today, The Humane Society of the United States, the nation's largest animal protection organization, applauded the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for considering a prohibition on possession and sales of all reptiles of concern as pets. This regulatory action would complement pending federal legislation, also supported by The HSUS, to prohibit importation and interstate trade in certain constrictor snakes for the pet trade.
In a letter to the FWC, The HSUS highlighted the recent tragic death of a Florida toddler and proliferation of Burmese pythons in the Everglades as reasons to take swift action to stop the influx of large constrictor snakes, prevent the spread of Burmese pythons and prevent the introduction of other species. The HSUS also urged the FWC to take a proactive and comprehensive approach and not just focus on a limited number of species, so that the problem is not simply shifted to other dangerous reptiles, such as anacondas. Once they become established, removing invasive species is expensive and sometimes impossible.
"We urge the FWC to look to take broader, proactive measures this year to stop the importation into the state, breeding, sale and acquisition of all reptiles of concern, including all anacondas, before another child is injured or killed, and another invasive species becomes established in the wild," wrote Jennifer Hobgood, Florida state director for The HSUS. "If we do not address these problems now, we will have failed just as policy makers failed in not banning the trade in Burmese pythons a decade or two decades ago."
States generally regulate which animals can be possessed and sold within their borders, while the federal government oversees international and interstate trade, making both state and federal action necessary. The HSUS supports legislation introduced in the U.S. Senate (S. 373) by Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., and in the U.S. House of Representatives (H.R. 2811) by Rep. Kendrick Meek, D-Fla., to prohibit importation and interstate commerce in certain constrictor snakes. In addition, The HSUS supports legislation expected to be introduced in the Florida legislature to ban the import, sales and acquisitions of all reptiles of concern.
The HSUS emphasizes that these measures must address all large constrictor snakes. If restrictions are placed only on a few species, the trade will shift to other species. This trend is already evident. The number of Burmese pythons imported into the United States dropped from about 14,000 in 2002 to 1,500 in 2006. The trade moved to captive bred animals and imports of other species. Imports of reticulated pythons increased from about 5,000 to 13,000 and anacondas increased from about 1,200 to 11,000 over this period.
Facts
Florida lists Burmese/Indian pythons, African rock pythons, amethystine pythons, reticulated pythons, green anacondas and Nile monitor lizards as "reptiles of concern," which currently require a permit and microchip to keep as pets.
Including all reptiles of concern is essential, and any action should include all anacondas, not just green anacondas, which are currently the only anaconda species listed as a reptile of concern. Yellow anacondas can also grow beyond 10 feet long and threaten people and wildlife.
The U.S. House Judiciary Committee amended and approved H.R. 2811 on July 29. As introduced, the bill would have covered a range of python species. The committee amended the bill to cover only the subspecies Burmese pythons and species African rock pythons. The bill now moves to the full House for consideration.
A hunt for Burmese pythons in Florida is unlikely to make a dent in the problem because of the snakes' remarkable reproductive capacity and ability to blend into the environment.
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The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization — backed by 11 million Americans, or one of every 28. For more than a half-century, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education, and hands-on programs. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty — On the web at humanesociety.org.
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RE: The HSUS Calls for Comprehensive State and Fed
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by jonny666 on August 10, 2009
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You know I really used to like the HSUS. Used to get all my animals from them and tried to do my part. The more I see the more I am really starting to dislike them. I heard a quote a little while ago that they want all pets out of peoples homes. I just don't understand. Without people owning pets they would be out of a job.
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RE: The HSUS Calls for Comprehensive State and Fed
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by pitbulllady on August 11, 2009
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"You know I really used to like the HSUS. Used to get all my animals from them and tried to do my part. The more I see the more I am really starting to dislike them. I heard a quote a little while ago that they want all pets out of peoples homes. I just don't understand. Without people owning pets they would be out of a job."
Johnny, it is not possible for you to have "gotten all your animals" from the HSUS, or even ONE animal. I think that you have fallen into their trap of deception; by having the words "Humane Society" in their name, they trick innocent and well-meaning people into thinking that they are one and same with local humane societies, the ones that actually rescue abused or abandoned animals(or at least, USED to-many have jumped on the Animal Rights bandwagon lately, too)and adopt them out. Understand this-there is ABSOLUTELY NO CONNECTION between the Humane Society of the United States and the local humane society you got your animals from! The HSUS does NOT fund or maintain ANY animal shelters and do not "rescue" animals, except to kill them! They use images of sad and abused animals in their slick advertising campaigns, so that people will continue to send them donations, believing that their money is actually being used to stop the abuse. It is, in fact, being used to hire lobbyists and fund politicians who are fighting to end ALL animal ownership, of any kind, for any reason. This has been the goal of the HSUS since the early '80's, when they went from being an animal WELFARE group, to an animal RIGHTS group. Again, the locale humane shelters from which you adopted pets are NOT in any way funded by or assisted by the HSUS and never have been. The HSUS is opposed to animal breeding in captivity, to zoos and circuses, to pets, to animal-based agriculture, to hunting and fishing and to any form of research that uses animals. Animals and animal use is something that most people have in common that is important, and if a group can control that, they can control the people, and control over people and our choices and lifestyles are ultimately what the HSUS and other Animal Rights groups are all about. The HSUS is rapidly integrating itself into the government at the state and local levels and has already requested that their agency be appointed over all animal-related matters at the Federal level, meaning that they will become another bureaucracy within the already-massive Washington powerhouse. They have petitioned to be given police powers, nationwide. They are telling us and the public that we do NOT, in fact, have property rights, only "privileges", in spite of the Constitution saying otherwise, and many people, even some here, no doubt, believe them. Because of that association with the words, "Humane Society", most people still believe them to be a legitimate and non-radical group that helps save animals, from whom you can adopt animals, when they are in fact every bit as radical as PETA in terms of their goals. They just wear nicer suits and more expensive watches.
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