Man arrested in GA with 13 reptiles

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Originally Posted by Rawbbeh

This really annoys the heck outta me. People own dogs from all over the world that are not native to the US...or even their state and they dont have to pay any "import permit" fees or show that they have a receipt that they bought it.

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If they import the animal(s) [dogs] from outside the U.S., they pay HEAVY fees to import them and have to quarantine the animals for a specified period of time, all while paying the food/housing costs for them. It does suck but not much to do about it. Breeders in other areas aren't immune either. When I had and showed horses growing up, to transport them between states required several letters from the vet showing they were up-to-date on their shots, Coggins test, etc. and in some states, you better have had all the "i's" dotted and "t's" crossed or they'd seize/hold your animals, your vehicle and equipment, etc. until you could prove you had the proper paperwork. Just my two cents...

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Originally Posted by Mike Cavanaugh

This is nothing new. Part of being a responsible reptile keeper is knowing your local laws and following them to the best of your abillity. Cornsnakes have been illegal in Georgia for as long as I can remember.

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True - but not everyone has been in the herp game as long as you. There are a lot of newbies here that a friendly helpful reminder might help...

FYI it is common knowledge within the Georgia Reptile community as to what we can and cannot keep. It's pretty much anything Non-Venemous that is native is not legal. Ironically I could catch a copperhead and keep it for the remainder of its life and Georgia Fish and Wildlife wouldn't blink an eyelash.

You're also not going to be in Georgia and purchase an animal that is illegal to own, our Fish and Wildlife don't screw around.

I've had to tell a number of my neighbors that their letting their kids keep a fence lizard or a corn or rat snake they found was actually a crime in the state of GA. I don't judge - i just don't want someone to get jacked up for something that petty...