http://www.redtailboas.com/cgi-bin....3573236

I think we should all write to help protect our wildlife

Protect our wildlife??
Protect our livestock!!
I read the whole article and it's just insane
Pretty soon all pets and reptiles will be looked at like alcohol was in the 20's   prohibited!!
Its time to fight back
Kind of makes you wonder...if they were zoned agricultural on thier property...would they be able to keep them

Apple

<img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':angry:'> This whole thing is rediculous! I just read the article and fired off a ticked off email to the PA Fish and Game. How can anybody justify this?
&nbsp; &nbsp;Actually, I'm not realy to surprised about the &quot;fight this in court and you'lle pay&quot; attitude. It seems to me most law enforcement officials get this kind of attitude. The police in my area are famous for it. They will lie and threaten their buttes off to get someone to admit they are guilty, so why not a Fish and Game?
&nbsp; &nbsp;What do you think the Fish and Game of PA is hiding by trying so hard to not let people go to court? And why are they even doing this?

Their e-mails to me says...
&gt;start of copy and paste&gt;
It isn't arbitrary, actually pretty cut and dry. &nbsp;Reference 34 Pa C.S. (Game &amp; Wildlife Code), Section 2163 titled (Unlawful importation of game or wildlife) and 58 Pa Code, Section 137.1 titled (Importation, sale and release of certain wildlife.) Basically Both of these provisions make it unlawful for a private individual to import wildlife that were either removed from the wild, held in captivity or captive bred for pet purposes. There are exceptions but these apply to circuses, zoos, menageries, etc..
Hope this is helpful.

&gt;end of copy and paste&gt;

To me this basically says NO ANIMALS PERIOD..... no birds no fish no sdogs no cats no ferrets no turtles no horses no cows no mules no donkeys no rats no mice no gerbils NO SNAKES.

All animals were once removed from the wild. &nbsp;PERIOD.

Well, if he doesn't challenge it in court, he is a fool. &nbsp;Even if the law changed after he had his hedgehogs, wouldn't they be grandfathered? &nbsp;Wouldn't he be allowed to keep them?

I own a pet store in New Jersey. &nbsp;I asked that skunks be added to my permit. &nbsp;They said sure, send the application and a fee and we will add it. &nbsp;I sent it in and waited....and waited...and waited. &nbsp;I finally called and spoke with this old nasty b#@^$. &nbsp;She yelled at me and said I told you yesterday on the phone, it was denied. &nbsp;Huh?? I didn't call yesterday. &nbsp;Anyway, she said I was denied because I was going to get them from out of state. &nbsp;There is only one breeder in the state of New Jersey, he has a 5 year wait list for skunks. &nbsp;The state and this breeder have some racket going, being how he is the only person allowed to sell skunks in the state and charges 500, when you can get them for 65-100 dollars anywhere else. &nbsp;They are the ones that told me he had a 5 year wait, why make me send in an application and fee if they knew I couldn't get the skunks?!?!?!

Another quick story about my friends at the Fish and Wildlife. I called and spoke to the director, supposed to be the guy in charge. &nbsp;I asked to add coutamundis to my permit. &nbsp;He said, with a matter of factly tone, &quot;sir, we don't allow those kind of birds to be sold&quot; &nbsp;Huh? &nbsp;Ok, terrific! (Coutimundis are not birds! They are mammals you tool&#33<img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=';)'>

One last story. &nbsp;The Dep of Health in New Jersey banned turtles. &nbsp;Why you ask? Because they carry salmonella. &nbsp;Don't chickens? &nbsp;You eat chickens. &nbsp;Why aren't chickens illegal? &nbsp;I will tell you why, because the poulty groups have too strong of a lobby. &nbsp;Anyways, they say in the statute that you can sell turtles if you prove they don't have salmonella. &nbsp;The only way to 100 percent test for salmonella is to grind the stomach and its contents of the turtle!! &nbsp;Are you going to buy a dead turtles? &nbsp;Probably not, unless you practice Santeria.

Basically, my rant is to show that you have ignorant people in charge of our hobby. &nbsp;How do we change this? Can we change this? I know some people will say, write to this one or that one. &nbsp;However, 90 percent of the time, they are just as ignorant, i.e. Christine Whitman, former Gov of New Jersey, and whatever you write falls on deaf ears. &nbsp;How do we (herpers) start a lobby group?

WHAT A CROCK!!! spam_I grew up in Maryland, and since the land and housing was sooo much cheaper in PA, we chose to move here some 7-8 yrs ago. spam_Not too far from home, we're about 20 minutes or so from where we grew up. spam_Living in PA, I found a real appreciation for other states that I have lived in/visited. spam_PA has some of the dumbest laws and practices you will ever see. spam_This is just one to boot! spam_What happened to &quot; The Land Of The Free! &quot; spam_?? spam_It's a fact in todays political world, if you don't have millions of dollars, or your last name's not Kennedy, you are'nt $hit! spam_People don't make the laws, political money bags do! spam_Shucks, I'll just tell them all the dragons, geckos, dogs, frog, chameleon, and fish we have are native to PA, since they think we're all dumb enough to believe the crap they're putting these people through! spam_Sorry for ranting, but this kind of stuff burns me up... &nbsp;What about reptile shows, why do they allow them??