Ohio.... Just the start?

[BHB]

The news from late Thursday was not good at all, I had heard rumors of an executive order to ban exotics about a month ago in the state of Ohio, but at that time it seemed unlikely that it would happen. Here’s how things are going, the HSUS (Humane Society of the United States) has been working very diligently to get exotic animals outlawed in this country. Don’t think they will stop when they achieve that goal, they will then move onto YOUR pets (dog and cats). Exotics are the easiest of the pet trade to go after because the majority of people are not educated and will not be opposed to supporting a ban. Lets face it most people that hear exotic pets, think that we are keeping Lions in our spare bedroom. We all know about the proposed bills in congress over the past two years, and the possible Rule Change in the USFWS that would ban interstate travel of the big snakes including Boas. Well, the HSUS is a smart bunch of people and they are not putting all their eggs in just those two baskets, they have found a new tactic, and this time it worked! They basically held the Governor of Ohio hostage and threatened to go after the way the agricultural farmers were keeping their livestock unless he made an executive order to ban exotics. So basically if he didn’t implement the exotic ban, that would include all big cats, bears, big pythons and boas as well as venomous snakes, he would lose his next election because the farmers would rise up against him. I understand the Governors position, he took the better of two evils. Yeah, he’s destroying an entire community in Ohio, pet shops, reptile shows, the largest exotic live animal auction in the country, not to mention breeders and wholesalers. Will it cost millions and millions of dollars of lost revenue and tens of thousands of jobs, probably. If he let the HSUS go after the meat farmers it would have cost a hundred times that in revenue and jobs. What is the most concerning here is the HSUS found a way to achieve their goal without having to get ONE vote. You tell me, do you think they are going to use this same tactic in every state that has substantial farming? Of course they will! I morn for the loss of business in Ohio, but I fear for the loss for the entire hobby. This my friends might be the first domino, and we as a hobby have to stand up and stop this insanity before they come to your backyard and stop you from keeping and breeding the animals you love! Support USARK now or we will all be looking back like our friends in Ohio with the look of disbelief. www.usark.org

[MikeV]

This sickens me

Im not in the US, but I do feel for you guys!

Good Luck! I hope you can stop them, the HSUS sounds like a bunch of wackos

[MazAnth]

As of right now the ban is on anything over 6' and hots. But the word is the new gov is going to veto most of the bill.

[OhhWatALoser]

So is it just a bill right now or did this actually happen?

also I think a huge problem is HSUS acts like they help animals, and they get crazy donations for it, then turn around and use 95% of the money for lobby for laws/bills like this. If people were just simply were informed of what the HSUS actually does, I think their power would disappear in less than a year.

[MazAnth]

By the way this all came about because a rescued bear killed a man here.

[MazAnth]

So is it just a bill right now or did this actually happen?

also I think a huge problem is HSUS acts like they help animals, and they get crazy donations for it, then turn around and use 95% of the money for lobby for laws/bills like this. If people were just simply were informed of what the HSUS actually does, I think their power would disappear in less than a year.

It passed

[BHB]

So is it just a bill right now or did this actually happen?

also I think a huge problem is HSUS acts like they help animals, and they get crazy donations for it, then turn around and use 95% of the money for lobby for laws/bills like this. If people were just simply were informed of what the HSUS actually does, I think their power would disappear in less than a year.

Because it's an executive order it does not need to pass, it's the Govenors power to sign into law without having a vote on it.

[LeviBP]

This really disheartens me. We need to really get our word to Kasich on Monday.

[starstrukk]

I hate the HSUS. Just sayin'. They're about as close to PETA as it gets, without being a complete clone. How about educating people instead of trying to violate their rights? It'll start there, then they'll say we can't own certain breeds of dogs, then who knows what they'll spread it to. Ridiculousness. /endrant

[OhhWatALoser]

Because it's an executive order it does not need to pass, it's the Govenors power to sign into law without having a vote on it.

holy crap, I didn't even know governors had this power.... its the patriot act all over again

I'm literally at a lost for words, this should be a local government matter, not statewide, why does the state have so much power, why does the governor have the ability to issue and executive order? this is not the country I learned about in school. where are the checks and balances?

It effects us reptile owners right now, but this is bigger than the reptile industry, I mean what happens when the governor decides on a whim "there too much crime during the night, i'm issuing a statewide curfew" "there too much pollution in the air, no gasoline cars allowed on the road, every now must buy an electric car" i mean extreme, yes, but what stopping him?