FINCHforum

I've already sent my Representative an e-mail.

Here in Michigan we're very concerned about Asian carp in the Great Lakes, and I'm sure that's what prompted my rep to co-sponsor the bill, but I don't think most people realize how far reaching it is.
If anyone keeps fish other than goldfish, birds other than canaries, or any kind of reptile or amphibian they need to be aware of this bill. Not to mention chinchillas, hedgehogs, pot-bellied pigs, etc, etc, etc.

PetSmart will be a ghost town if this thing passes.

This is Just another smoke screen by our elected officials to take our attention off the real problem in the U.S.....THE ECONOMY. I sent an Email to my rep.

Signed...had to put my address too .

Paradise Aviary wrote: Not just Pet Smart think about all the small mom and pop shops, these are small business that will be braught down to the rubles. In south Florida alone thousands will be forced to close.

I understand that the government wants us as owners of exotics pets to be aware of local laws and the effect our animals can cause the native wild life if realesed. But TAKING THEM AWAY FROM US WILL NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM! There are other ways to prove a point.

What will they do with all our pets if the law is passed ? Will they uthinize them ?! Because we already know they can't be kept or released ! THEY'LL END UP KILLING MILLIONS OF INNOCENT ANIMALS

This is what I was talking about in another post ---- !!!!!!
This is a problem or everyone --- and as a small business owner( based around animals ) like my self this could cripple me/ us
People need to realize this is not begging blow out of proportion --this is for real !!!
This is going to start out in Florida and is going to spread this the Black Plague !

go to this page, read it and follow the Bill here.... http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/113/hr996 (read the likelihood of this going through)


I doubt they will ever make citizens give up their pets, birds etc....the cost in policing and collecting, housing collected animals would be extremely expensive and where would the money come from...an already hurting economy or taxes...let's see that one go over with taxpayers.

the Bill was introduced in 2011 but not enacted http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/112/hr996

The longer a bill sits on the books the less likely it is to be passed.

There was a bill proposed to limit the amount of dogs you can own including puppies. It was aimed at the mills and back yard breeders. It was written in such a way that it would ultimately effect the good breeders, ones that show dogs and raise their dogs in loving environments. Good breeders were in an uproar especially at being told that the dogs must be bred away from the family home and in a separate building with a whelping box. This caused such a huge outpouringobjection in regards to how the bill was written, how it would effect responsible kind breeders and not to mention the cost of the state to oversee all the breeders...the bill never came to be.

I can see putting reasonable restrictions and penalties on those that abuse the privilege of owning certain pets/animals/reptiles/fish.

cindy wrote: the Bill was introduced in 2011 but not enacted http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/112/hr996

That seems to be a different bill w/the same number.

This would be such a headache for officials at all levels of government, I can't imagine it going through. They would have to phase it in, somehow, as they continue to define "common and clearly domesticated" species.
But stranger things have happened.

this is the section I find interesting... the chances of it passing

Prognosis
9% chance of getting past committee.
7% chance of being enacted.

Only 11% of House bills made it past committee and only 3% were enacted in 2011–2013

Please pay attention to these bills. One day you will wake up and they will be passed. Then it is too late. Look how states banned Java finches. I've traveled the US for many years. Never saw a rice field in New York or Kentucky yet they say these birds are a threat to rice growers. It can happen. From what I have heard, animal rights groups are behind this and they are well funded. I would also be reluctant to give my name and address. Guess the safest way is to let your representative know what you think. The Florida Federation of Aviculture works to preserve your right to own and enjoy exotic birds (www.ffabirds.org). If a law says I can't keep my birds in Florida, I'm leaving and the birds are going with me.

this is another topic on the same subject http://www.finchforum.com/viewtopic.php ... t=bill+996

also
http://usherp.org/2013/03/18/hr996-hr669-rewrite/
"As predicted by the US Herpetoculture Alliance, Representative Louise Slaughter (D-NY) introduced H.R. 996: Invasive Fish and Wildlife Prevention Act on March 6, 2013. H.R. 996 is the expected re-write of H.R. 669 from 2008."

Ouch! My head hurts just trying to think about this subject.