HR 669 Update

[Adam_Wysocki]

(from the NOHR669.com blog ... http://nohr669.com/blog/?p=245)

As most people are aware, Marshall Meyers is the CEO and General Council for the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC). He has dedicated over 36 years of his life to protecting the rights and interests of the pet industry as a whole. That means everyone; from the national retailers, distributers, and wholesalers of both animals and pet products, to importers and exports, to smaller scale breeders, hobbyists, and individual pet owners.

Since 1970, there has never been a time when PIJAC has even come close to “selling out” one segment of the pet industry in favor of another. They have a proven track record of fighting for everyone. Whether it’s been a ban on dog breeding, importation issues relating to birds, giant python restrictions, or any of the tens of thousands of other pieces of legislation that would impact the pet industry negatively, for almost four decades, PIJAC has been out in front fighting for all of us.

Since starting the NOHR669.com website in early April, I’ve been lucky enough to get to know Marshall Meyers personally and have been extremely impressed by his dedication to protecting the rights of everyone involved with pets in any way. The hours he puts in and the time he dedicates go far above and beyond what anyone could reasonably expect from someone in his position.

Having heard the “internet rumors” circulating over the last week or so, I took the time to go visit Marshall at the PIJAC offices in Washington D.C. on Friday to confront him about these issues face to face. Marshall was gracious enough to spend about 4 ½ hours with my wife and I and let us get a behind the scenes look in to the work that PIJAC does. We saw first hand the numerous assaults that are coming our way from people that wish to end the pet trade in the United States completely. It truly is a terrifying time for pet owners in this country. We need to stand together now more than ever. If there is an issue of concern, we need to communicate rather than throw stones. If there is an issue of trust, we need to sit down face to face and resolve it rather than turn our backs on each other and be left with nothing. If we can’t figure out a way to swallow our pride, confront our fears, and work together … we stand to lose everything that we love and have worked so hard for.

Based on my conversations with Marshall, here is where we currently stand:

According to Marhsall, PIJAC is working on efforts (both legal and scientific) based on the Federal Invasive Species Management Plan to address the concerns brought up at the April 23rd hearing about species that are truly invasive. This work is on going and will take some time, but as soon as it is completed it will be shared with everyone.

In its 36+ year history, PIJAC has never supported a “white list” or “clean list” approach to invasive species management and it does not now, nor will it in the future. PIJAC believes that following the Federal Invasive Species Management Plan is the best way to address species that are truly invasive. Marshall denies that PIJAC is working on any compromises involving a “white list” or “clean list” and there are certainly no secret meetings taking place between PIJAC and HSUS.

Many people in the reptile community are concerned about PIJACs National Reptile Improvement Plan (NRIP) and how it might be related to HR 669 – Marshall is adamant that NRIP has absolutely nothing to do with HR 699. It is a completely voluntary industry accreditation program that is available to anyone that feels that they might benefit from it. It’s been around for many years before HR 669. Almost every large industry in the United States has a group like PIJAC that represents them and those groups often have “best practices” or “accreditation” programs like PIJAC does with NRIP. Some members of those groups choose to seek accreditation, others do not.

Marshall welcomes any questions or concerns from both PIJAC members as well as non-members. He can be contacted through the PIJAC website at www.pijac.org.

I have a bunch of additional information to share on the NOHR669.com blog and will work over the next couple of days to have it all posted. If there are any direct questions for me, or if there’s any way that I can help at all, please don’t hesitate to contact me at info@nohr669.com.

Thank you.

Adam Wysocki
www.nohr669.com