UPDATE: California

UPDATE: California
Los Angeles County: Ordinance to Amend Title 10 – Animals
Proposed regulatory changes in Los Angeles County could have shut down or forced relocation of Reptile & Tropical Fish breeders, dealers and pet stores. Although primarily aimed towards dogs and cats it would have had a devastating impact on the Reptile Nation in LA County.
If enacted the new regulations would have required:

1. Cages would not be allowed to be stacked.
2. 24/7 staffing if have more than 50 animals in the facility. See proposed Section 10.40.010(Z). If less than 50 animals, you must have adequate staffing for at least 8 hours a day. If you have more than 50 fish, reptiles, birds, etc., or any combination thereof, you must staff the facility 24/7.
3. Records must be kept on each "Animal". "Animals" defined in Section 10.08.020 any animal, bird, reptile or fish.
4. Proprietary business information will be available to the public (that could mean Animal Rights groups).
5. The Department may also impose “reasonable conditions” on a breeding license for any non dog or cat breeder.

Click here to read LA County Regulatory Proposal:
http://www.usark.org/uploads/LAcountyRegs.pdf

USARK engaged on this issue at all levels with staff and leadership at LA County Animal Care & Control and Board of Supervisors prior to hearings that were held March 9th & 10th. On March 9th Christine Roscher testified on behalf of USARK. Christine asked that the ordinance be limited to dogs and cats only. As a result The proposed ordinance was removed from the agenda for the LA County Board of Supervisors for March 16, 2010. The ordinance will be re-evaluated by LA County to ensure that animals “other than dogs and cats” are excluded from the requirements, as appropriate.

This information is from Patricia Learned, Executive Assistant to the Director, Department of Animal Care and Control, Marcia Mayeda.
Click here to read USARK testimony in LA County: http://www.usark.org/uploads/LA%20Co...0Testimony.pdf

California Department of Fish & Game: Turtles, Frogs & Heloderma

There will be a hearing to discuss agenda items on April 7th & 8th in Monterey.
Item 21. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ADOPTION OF PROPOSED CHANGES TO
SECTIONS 671, 671.1, 671.7 AND 703, TITLE 14, CCR, RE: NEW RESTRICTED
SPECIES PERMITS AND REQUIREMENTS. (Helodermas)
Item 25. POSSIBLE ADOPTION OF COMMISSION POLICY, RE: NON-NATIVE FROGS AND
TURTLES (Will not effect Herpetoculture or pets)

USARK has continued to be engaged with the Commission and the Department on these issues. Our Senior California Adviser George Osborn has arranged two high level meetings with the DFG since the hearing last month. We have established USARK as a resource to the Department and have offered our expertise in addressing issues. USARK Director Doug Price will give testimony on both agenda items for the Reptile Nation.

There Is Strength in Numbers... Protect Your Rights! We can win this fight!!

Whaaaat D;

Originally Posted by USARK.Jonathan.Brady

UPDATE: California

1. Cages would not be allowed to be stacked.

Yeah that would have sucked bungholio!!!!

Congratulations, sounds like a victory to me. Well done USArk.

I have just been told that the rules were not rewritten to exempt pets/herpetoculture, so as it stands now there is a complete ban on non-native turtles and amphibians. Given how legislation tends to resist ammendment, I'm very concerned that this will not ever be rewritten.