GOOD NEWS for a change!!

[JLC]

Legislature in West Virginia has actually listened to the experts from USARK and removed ALL reptiles from their "dangerous wild animal" list!

https://www.facebook.com/UnitedState...875516/?type=1

[Eric Alan]

[Reinz]

That IS a nice move in the right direction for a change.

Thanks for the update!

[George1994]

Whenever I hear 'good news' haha! I can't read it without doing it in the Professors voice!

[Daniel.michelle]

Just 49 states to go.....

[Albert Clark]

Wow! People in office gradually coming to their senses! That is a big step in the right direction. USARK is the bomb!

[bcr229]

All reptiles except venomous snakes and Komodo (sp?) dragons were removed last December in the Rules Committee session. The last two were removed by a House amendment during the regular session.

We still can't fully celebrate yet though! The Dangerous Wild Animals Board remains intact and by statute it has to meet every year, review the list, recommend animals to add or remove, publish the revised list by July 1 for public comment, etc. During the final vote on the list a lot of the legislators (mainly Senators) were rather upset when the minimal list finally made it to that chamber. It was obvious during the discussion that many of them hadn't reviewed the list to be voted on, several wanted to amend it to put venomous snakes and large constrictors back onto it (which was fortunately shot down), etc. FWIW we know who they are and they will be targeted for replacement during the upcoming elections.

So the battle on this isn't over yet, and we in WV need to closely watch the DWA meeting agenda and outcome each year.

[JLC]

So the battle on this isn't over yet, and we in WV need to closely watch the DWA meeting agenda and outcome each year.

I think that's true for every state, all the time. What's important about this victory is that it shows what CAN be done when people work together and work hard to make something happen.

It will always be a never-ending battle, though. Kind of like laundry. I may celebrate folding and putting away the last piece of cleaned clothes and linens...but at the end of that same day, there's suddenly a new pile of clothes in the basket waiting for their own battle with the washing machine.

[Lizardlicks]

Yeah, read this on facebook last night. Woohoo!

[BJK1995]

Doesn't sound totally like good news to me honestly lol