Ball pythons banned in New York City.

Hi I recently moved into the city for school and I was looking to get a ball python,
but when I went into my local pet shop and ask about them I learn that they are illegal to own in the city,
along with a bunch of other reptiles including monitors and boas.

I was wondering if there was any way for me to make a petition to appeal the ban or if somebody would be willing to help me go about doing this, that would be super helpful!

also I would like to just get a gauge on how many people on here would be willing to sign such a petition.
So even if you don't know how I could go about making a petition it would be cool if you just left a comment saying weather or not you are behind the idea.

thank you,
Mike Hogan.

NYC is pretty screwed as far as exotic pets goes, especially since the lawmakers there are pretty tight with the animal rights movement. It would be pretty monumental if you could change the ban honestly. I think they also ban even ferrets and gerbils. Pretty much nothing that isn't banned.
On a different note, I'm not condoning law breaking by saying this, but the ban is essentially never enforced anyway. I've heard of people asking the cops and they didn't even know about it, and there is most certainly many people in NYC who illegally keep banned pets and may or may not even be aware of it. I'd question even having a law on the books if they're not going to enforce it, especially if, logically speaking, there was no good reason to have the law anyway.
You could shoot an email to USARK for assistance if you really are serious about taking on this ban. You'll need more than a petition though.

Hey, thanks for the reply I just sent an email to USARK asking if there was anything we can do about it, I will post an update when I get a reply hopefully we can get the ball rolling (no pun intended) on getting rid of this ban.
Also yea I'm sure there are many people that own illegal animals especially since you can buy ball pythons ferrets and pretty much anything else in New Jersey which is about 20 minutes from Manhattan.

Thanks again,
Mike Hogan.

Welcome to the forum M-Hogan.

Sounds like USARK is the best place to start.

There are a few folks here from NYC. Maybe they will give their views.


Constrictors are banned in my city too. But I can't find it in writing anywhere. I don't want to phone anyone and raise any awareness.

But the three pet shops in town, including Petco and Petsmart, are not allowed to sell constrictors.

I'm just playing ignorant and keeping quiet. No one knows that I have snakes.

Seriously why are ball pythons even illegal? It doesn't make sense. If they escape they will not survive winter and be an invasive species. And they are not dangerous. I don't live in the city but my brother does.

Even hedgehogs. And yes ferrets are also banned.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by midgard

Seriously why are ball pythons even illegal? It doesn't make sense. If they escape they will not survive winter and be an invasive species. And they are not dangerous. I don't live in the city but my brother does.

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Danger is a relative concept. What you see in NYC is the inevitable result of the march towards permits, registrations, and outright bans of "dangerous" animals. Many people consider them dangerous and most people couldn't care less to be enlightened...easier to just ban all.

Just doing a little research on it , and I found out that they are illegal in the 5 boroughs. Kinda glad I waited till I moved out of NY to get into snakes.

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They are illegal but yes definitely in pet shops. So I don't think they enforce the law or at least not often.

That's crazy. I mean ferrets? Hedgehogs? Are these people against all animal? Seriously birds, cats and dogs only?! No variety. I can't believe it. I just never thought I'd hear that a place as populated as NY wouldn't want to have an opinion on what kind of animals they would be able to have. This is depressing to me. :(:(