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!
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