CT Residents just got screwed!

Screw this.

Unfortunately, the legislation isn't always driven by DEP (DNS, DEC, or whatever acronym a given state uses)...it just gets dumped in their lap for regulation & enforcement. State and local legislators - operating under the guise of public protection - are virtually unstoppable once something like this is championed. The wheel may be slowed, but rarely is it ever brought to a complete stop & disabled (which is necessary to prevent it from beginning its roll again). At best, it is diverted onto what is seen as a less destructive course, and those in its path are left to deal with the impact.

Sad to see another State fall; and sorry that you're caught in the crunch, Steve.

Steve, these rules do seem overly harsh and applied to a list where all the listed critters are not equally a possible risk. I can't see any situation where it might be necessary for anyone to have a million in liability insurance because they have, for instance, a wood frog. I'm curious as to how much the insurance would cost, can you perhaps get a quote?

Originally Posted by Lucille

a quote?

$2,376/year

The situation in CT is a difficult one. There was an administrative rule change done, as opposed to a law passed that had to be voted on and signed by the Governor. This is the danger inherent in states that grant arbitrary rule making authority to their state agencies. A bill proposal you can fight, but often times your ability to influence a rule is minimal by design. They really don't want public input. That is why they granted arbitrary rule making authority.

Last March, when the public comment period was open, USARK made public comment opposing the rule, and urged CT residents to do the same. Obviously they have decided to enact the rule. There appears on the surface to be some legal challenges for the rule. They may have overstepped their legal bounds. USARK attorneys are reviewing the rule to see if we can make a case against it. Stay tuned...

USARK Alert of Public Comment Deadline from last March:

DEADLINE for Public Comment March 1, 2011

Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection Bureau of Natural Resources Wildlife Division is taking Public Comment on a proposal to promulgate regulations pursuant to Connecticut General Statute Section 26-55. This proposal as written would effectively ban the importation, ownership and trade of many reptiles. Please make Public Comment through the link provided below!

Click here to make Public Comment: http://usark.org/campaign.php?id=22

Although well meaning, this Rule Making process seems to have been highjacked by the Animal Rights Industry. As stakeholders, USARK members in CT were never invited to participate in the formulation of a proposed rule. The premise of public health and safety is inconsistent with the fact that reptiles have never been a public health or safety risk in Connecticut. The reptiles listed cannot survive outdoors for most of the year in CT. It is too cold even for most reptiles native to the US to survive in CT, let alone tropical reptiles. There has never been a death associated with a captive reptile in CT. On average there is only about one per year in the entire US. Traditional pets and livestock are responsible for dozens of deaths every year without proposed bans of ownership. This proposal has been corrupted by special interest groups opposed to animal ownership and is being exploited to attempt to remove as many animals from ownership as possible. This proposal if enacted will create a new class of criminal in CT from thousands of solid, reptile keeping, law abiding citizens.

USARK has an alternative to a ban on ownership and trade of reptiles. We have a set of industry Best Management Practices that will address concerns in CT, without alienating the citizens of CT or destroying hundreds of jobs in the process. This model provides a voluntary framework for responsible reptile keeping with the primary focus being secure containment and public health & safety protocols.

Click here to read proposed regulation: http://www.usark.org/uploads/Connecticut265562011.pdf

Please engage in the process and make Public Comment prior to the March 1st DEADLINE!

Thank you USARK.
You're right. It looks like they railroaded us.
When they had the public comment in Hartford, it looked like this would be a non-issue. Seems like they took an alternate route to get it thru.

We are analyzing the legal ramifications of this rule. There appears to be serious property rights issues that may be addressed by legal action. We will update the situation soon...

Holy Cow!
It's $1M per animal!
That means you need $1M of public liability insurance for a friggin tree frog!

Gray treefrog (Hyla versicolor)
Yep. Better have $1M of insurance in case one of these "dangerous" frogs attacks someone!

Just look at them! Hiding in plain sight, waiting to eat our children!

Most of our legislates are a bunch of inbred idiots (something has to account for the stupidity). I'm just waiting for someone to appoint their horse as chief of staff, or start dragging around a rock on a leash.

Actually, I read somewhere that pet rocks can cause serious harm to windows. They might be next on the list. I know HSUS cries whenever it sees a rock in a cage.