NorthernRegius.com
04-24-2007, 08:05 PM
NM Exotic Pet Ownership UNDER ATTACK!!!
The State of NM Dept. of Game & Fish contacted a few select people to hear a presentation concerning “importation of live non-domestic animals, birds & fish.”
They are using Title 19 Chapter 35 Part 7 (http://www.wildlife.state.nm.us/apps_permit/index.htm click on Importation Permit Application (Non-Game - Exotic Pets) [PDF] for details), which they allege, has been on the books since 1978, to implement an exotics permit system. Even though no such permit system has been enforced for private owners nor retailers in the past, the two folks that resided over the Roswell meeting (Rhonda Holderman & Michael Catanach), made very clear their intent to do so in the immediate future.
Al Lewis, owner of Al’s Pets in Clovis, NM attended the Roswell meeting. He had received a letter asking for his input and was one of only 2 attendees. Mz. Holderman informed Al that she had sent out invites to “all the pet shops that would be affected”… clearly she failed to notify the many private exotic “non-native” animal owners within the state. Only a note on the Deptarment's web-site serves to inform the general public.
When reviewing Title 19 Chapter 35 Part 7 it is easy to see that not only is it nearly impossible to enforce, it is NOT geared towards allowing private persons to obtain permits! An individual has to obtain permission from their county & city authorities, before the Dept. of Game & Fish will even consider them for such a permit. To be in proper compliance, the perspective applicant must also receive a health certificate for the animal IN ADVANCE! The is nothing in the text of Title 19 Ch. 35 Pt. 7 that could be called “encouraging”. This is clearly one degree short of an ENTIRE BAN, favoring the discretion of various agencies who merely have only to deny permission!
Although invited to this meeting under the guise “of providing assistance” it was very clear to Al that the NM Dept. of Game & Fish were primarily interested in pointing out that any non-domestic animal owners who do not have permits (including him) are not in compliance. Based on the way this presentation is being handled, it is clear that the members in the NM Dept. of Game & Fish are counting on little resistance to their plan.
We must act now! It is imperative that we actively show our opposition to their interpretation of Title 19 Chapter 35 Part 7. There are 3 meetings (dates, times & locations below). Also, we request that all “non-domestic” pet owners, retailers & distributors (whether a NM resident or not) please contact the following members & be sure to let them know how this will impact you! We need to know why after nearly two decades of being on the books & not implemented, are they choosing to enforce this?
Please contact Al Lewis (505) 762-3500 Lewmtz@yahoo.com if you’d like more information on how to help. We need the help of everyone, this action is being downplayed & we just can’t have too much support!
The remaining meetings:
April 26 in Santa Fe 5:30PM-7:30PM
Location: NM Game & Fish Headquarters, Fisheries Conference Room
1 Wildlife Way
May 1 in Albuquerque 2PM-4PM
Location: Dept. of Transportation, District 3 Auditorium
7500 Pan American Freeway
May 10 in Farmington 6PM-8PM
Location: Civic Center, Room B
200 West Arrington
Contact info-
Governor Bill Richardson (505) 476-2200
http://www.governor.state.nm.us/contact.php
Mail:Office of the Governor
490 Old Santa Fe Trail
Room 400
Santa Fe, NM 87501
NM Dept. of Game & Fish
web-site: www.wildlife.state.nm.us
Phone: (505) 476-8064 Fax: (505) 476-8166
People-
Rhonda Holderman (505) 476-8064
Special Uses Permit Manager
Rhonda.holderman@state.nm.us
Michael Catanach (505) 476-8065
Special Uses Program Admin.
mcatanach@state.nm.us
Other Commission members:
http://www.wildlife.state.nm.us/commission/index.htm
The State of NM Dept. of Game & Fish contacted a few select people to hear a presentation concerning “importation of live non-domestic animals, birds & fish.”
They are using Title 19 Chapter 35 Part 7 (http://www.wildlife.state.nm.us/apps_permit/index.htm click on Importation Permit Application (Non-Game - Exotic Pets) [PDF] for details), which they allege, has been on the books since 1978, to implement an exotics permit system. Even though no such permit system has been enforced for private owners nor retailers in the past, the two folks that resided over the Roswell meeting (Rhonda Holderman & Michael Catanach), made very clear their intent to do so in the immediate future.
Al Lewis, owner of Al’s Pets in Clovis, NM attended the Roswell meeting. He had received a letter asking for his input and was one of only 2 attendees. Mz. Holderman informed Al that she had sent out invites to “all the pet shops that would be affected”… clearly she failed to notify the many private exotic “non-native” animal owners within the state. Only a note on the Deptarment's web-site serves to inform the general public.
When reviewing Title 19 Chapter 35 Part 7 it is easy to see that not only is it nearly impossible to enforce, it is NOT geared towards allowing private persons to obtain permits! An individual has to obtain permission from their county & city authorities, before the Dept. of Game & Fish will even consider them for such a permit. To be in proper compliance, the perspective applicant must also receive a health certificate for the animal IN ADVANCE! The is nothing in the text of Title 19 Ch. 35 Pt. 7 that could be called “encouraging”. This is clearly one degree short of an ENTIRE BAN, favoring the discretion of various agencies who merely have only to deny permission!
Although invited to this meeting under the guise “of providing assistance” it was very clear to Al that the NM Dept. of Game & Fish were primarily interested in pointing out that any non-domestic animal owners who do not have permits (including him) are not in compliance. Based on the way this presentation is being handled, it is clear that the members in the NM Dept. of Game & Fish are counting on little resistance to their plan.
We must act now! It is imperative that we actively show our opposition to their interpretation of Title 19 Chapter 35 Part 7. There are 3 meetings (dates, times & locations below). Also, we request that all “non-domestic” pet owners, retailers & distributors (whether a NM resident or not) please contact the following members & be sure to let them know how this will impact you! We need to know why after nearly two decades of being on the books & not implemented, are they choosing to enforce this?
Please contact Al Lewis (505) 762-3500 Lewmtz@yahoo.com if you’d like more information on how to help. We need the help of everyone, this action is being downplayed & we just can’t have too much support!
The remaining meetings:
April 26 in Santa Fe 5:30PM-7:30PM
Location: NM Game & Fish Headquarters, Fisheries Conference Room
1 Wildlife Way
May 1 in Albuquerque 2PM-4PM
Location: Dept. of Transportation, District 3 Auditorium
7500 Pan American Freeway
May 10 in Farmington 6PM-8PM
Location: Civic Center, Room B
200 West Arrington
Contact info-
Governor Bill Richardson (505) 476-2200
http://www.governor.state.nm.us/contact.php
Mail:Office of the Governor
490 Old Santa Fe Trail
Room 400
Santa Fe, NM 87501
NM Dept. of Game & Fish
web-site: www.wildlife.state.nm.us
Phone: (505) 476-8064 Fax: (505) 476-8166
People-
Rhonda Holderman (505) 476-8064
Special Uses Permit Manager
Rhonda.holderman@state.nm.us
Michael Catanach (505) 476-8065
Special Uses Program Admin.
mcatanach@state.nm.us
Other Commission members:
http://www.wildlife.state.nm.us/commission/index.htm