Virginia House Bill HB 1242

Here is and update on our trip to Richmond to lobby against HB 1242 and SB 477. We only had a dozen people show up. Very disappointing considering the HSUS and ASPCA were there in full force with three times as many people. We met with a few delegates and aides, some meetings were positive while others not so much. Most hadn’t even read the Bill. If we are going keep our rights to own these animals, we are going to have to step it up people. I know people have jobs, but so do the people that showed up to lobby for our rights,. If we want to win this fight, sacrifices need to be made. I took my 12 year old daughter out of school so she could learn how our government works. I was surprised at how interested the delegates and aides were in my daughters feelings on the Bills. At times they seemed more interested in what she had to say than us adults. I encourage everyone to take a day off early next week and go to the Capital with your children (if you have any) and lobby against these Bills. Once the Bills get passed, it will be too late to do anything. The time to do something is now. Get letters out, have your children write letters as well. If these Bills pass we’ll lose our rights to keep these animals in Virginia forever. I really don’t think most people understand what really is at stake here. People could lose pets, breeding stock, jobs, and businesses. There are still many keepers that have no idea about what is going on so we need to get the word out.

Here is the view of the ASPCA. Think your animals are safe? - http://www.aspca.org/adoption/adopti...c-animals.aspx

HB 1242 has been assigned to a sub-committee (agriculture).

Delegate Daniel W. Marshall, III (Chairman)
General Assembly Building, Room 702
Capitol Square
Richmond, Virginia 23219
(804) 698-1014
email: DelDMarshall@house.virginia.gov


Delegate Robert D. Orrock, Sr.
General Assembly Building, Room 411
Capitol Square
Richmond, Virginia 23219
(804) 698-1054
email: DelBOrrock@house.virginia.gov

Delegate Charles D. Poindexter
General Assembly Building, Room 807
Capitol Square
Richmond, Virginia 23219
(804) 698-1009
email: DelCPoindexter@house.virginia.gov

Delegate Barry D. Knight
General Assembly Building, Room 417
Capitol Square
Richmond, Virginia 23219
(804) 698-1081
email: DelBKnight@house.virginia.gov

Delegate James W. Morefield
General Assembly Building, Room 714
Capitol Square
Richmond, Virginia 23219
(804) 698-1003
email: DelJMorefield@house.virginia.gov

Delegate Matthew James
General Assembly Building, Room 814
Capitol Square
Richmond, Virginia 23219
(804) 698-1080
email: DelMJames@house.virginia.gov

Delegate Mark D. Sickles
General Assembly Building, Room 703
Capitol Square
Richmond, Virginia 23219
(804) 698-1043
email: DelMSickles@house.virginia.gov

"Honey bears, sugar gliders,cornsnakes, green iguanas, black panthers, rosy boas, flying squirrels, bearded dragons, veiled chameleons, spotted pythons, leopard geckos, even poison dart frogs and pot-bellied pigs—these are just some of the exotic animals people sell as pets. It may be easy to buy an exotic animal, but it is not a good idea. It is bad for the animals, bad for us and bad for the environment. And although it may be borderline legal to sell some of these animals, in many places it is illegal to buy them."


Yeah, those Corn snakes and Rosy boas are soooo exotic even though they are both found in the U.S. Don't even get me started on those evil leopard geckos. If they get loose and breed in the wild, do you know how many native reptiles will have to fight with the leopard geckos to survive? Think about the Alligators and the Collard Lizards!! What about them!!! It isn't fair that they have to battle with the Leopard gecko for food.

Straight from USARK's Facebook Page:

"VA HB1242 Hits Legislative Deadline in Agriculture Sub-Committee. May be held over to 2013, but NOT GOING ANYWHERE in 2012! Kudos to all those in VA who have worked against it!! Today USARK CEO Andrew Wyatt learned from contacts in the VA General Assembly that Delegate Peace will pull HB1242 and possibly hold it over until 2013. This was confirmed by two separate sources.

SB477 is still alive, but will have a more difficult path to follow w/o it's House counterpart. A group of citizens and USARK members opposed to the bill will lobby door to door on Thursday February 2nd. If you would like to join this group email president@usark.org. There Is Strength In Numbers... Protect Your Rights!"

It's time to turn all of our attention to the Senate Bill!