This is really scaring me (NY reptile ban?)

I just read that our governor Pataki has until November 2nd to either sign or veto a bill that would ban some large reptiles from being kept as pets in NY state. I got this from the Western NY Herp society's site:

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If passed, this bill will ban many species of reptiles that many hobbyists currently own or may wish to own in the future. Some of species that would be banned would include all venomous, large pythons, anacondas, several monitor species, and all crocodilians. The current bill also gives the state the authority to regulate the possession of most animals (except for "farm animals" and "companion animals"). Iguanas are also specifically listed as requiring a license to possess.

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This is seriously scaring me. I love my reptiles (though the only "lerge constrictor" I own now is a boa, I may want larger ones in the future.) I seriously hope that this ban does not get passed. I have written the governor about it as so many other herp keepers have already; hopefully that makes a difference.
But I really hope that in NY, we do not have to be treated as criminals for keeping our herps.

It sounds harsh to some one that may own the larger pythons and the others that were mentioned, but reading your animal list it doesnt look like you will be affected. as of now any way, I hope nothing like that will ever come here, we are too small of a province for any one to care :) haha
good luck with it

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The current bill also gives the state the authority to regulate the possession of most animals (except for "farm animals" and "companion animals"). Iguanas are also specifically listed as requiring a license to possess.

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Snakes can be companions,too.Some people make wanna go crazy!At least they are doing something about iguanas,though

edit button?

Stuff like this happens because of bad herpers, meaning people that let a 20 ft Burm roam around and then it kills the owner or people that have 20 different kinds of hots in their apt and someone dies.

It all comes down to education allot of people just buy reptiles as throw away pets when they get to big or become inconvienent they chuck em.

thankfully we don't have those laws here yet.

I agree.
All I can say is, this state worries me. :(

The reptile laws keep getting stricter. Gladly though MNs herp laws don't seem very strit at all. From what I've seen anyway.

Maybe I'll just move to another state! Or build a secret underground lair to house my snakes in, where no one could ever find them. It is kinda sad to think that simple reptile keeping could be viewed as a crime. :(

I hope it doesn't happen, Gin. If it does I suppose for once I'd be glad I moved down here. Keep us posted.

It truely sucks. Why isn't keeping large dogs banned? They could kill you. But do they?
Gosh, it just seems like the man dosn't like reptiles at all.

I hope they don't ban large dogs either or I'd have to get rid of my Sydney! It's the owners, not the animals that's always the problem, no matter what type of animal you are referring to. I'm originally from Western NY and it would truly suck if they banned pythons and such b/c I gained my love for them well before moving down here and someday may want to move back. We'll see I guess.

It seems really silly that they want to put such strict restrictions over the entire state.

I see nothing wrong with owning any animal the heart desires, as long as the person in possession is a qualified caregiver, whether it be large dogs, pitbulls(which i myself have two of - and CONSTANTLY deal with the bad pitbull reputation), hot snakes, big pythons/boas, its just sad that theres no fair way to regulate things from the goverments point of view

Maybe there should be a state mandated test that owners should take to aquire proper licensing to handle certain animals. IE specific tests for specific species, it could possibly make aquiring certain species more difficult from the buyers point of view, but in the long run would probably weed out alot of potential owners that dont know what they're getting into.

I understand the bad pitbull reputation. My mom has a pit, and he's a really friendly gentle dog. He's not really going to hurt you, he's just stupid. I've never known another dog that where you could hit him with the bumper of a car, then maybe he'd move. (That never happened, but we did stop for a while and yell at him to move.)

Both of my pits are by far the best trained and most reliably loyal dogs i've ever owned. I can honestly say i could take either of my dogs anywhere, without a leash, and they would never stray more than 5 feet from my side. I believe with owning a pit you have to establish dominance and control at an early age, without taking it to a level where they will fear you, but without giving them an opportunity to sense weakness and "over throw" your rule. I sent both of them to my bestfriends father when they were puppies - he breeds Dogo Argentines(google em, they're big :D and strong :D ) for defense/security purposes. He kept my puppies for a few weeks, and when i got them back, they were both AMAZING. I can think of countless times i've told one of my dogs to stay, and accidently walked away to do something else, relized "wheres my dog" - just to realize she's sitting right where i told her to stay.

only downfall is since i spoil them more than working with them lately, they're getting a little defiant in the house, but they still respond to all commands and behave remarkably well. The other thing that I never thought was possible is, they ignore other dogs, other people, cats, squirrells, ANYTHING if i'm out walking them. Its like their whole mission in life is to make me pleased with their behavior

P.S. you're moms dog is stubborn because it feels it has no reason to move/listen, very strong/stubborn dogs by nature need alot of work to make them understand that they are loved, but they still need to listen and be compliant.

I think a will move to amsterdam lol I'm not staying here if it's passed the thing that scares me is that laws usually spread.

Nah, he's not really stubborn, he's just a sweet loveable dummy (and I was exaggerating). He's an outside dog, only the akita's are allowed in the house.

Really it's all about really good training. If an akita isn't properly socialized (they are also guard dogs, very very loyal etc). they can cuase problems as well, but if trained properly (and most of the time they are perfectly normal happy friendly dogs) they are perfectly normal....that is, unless you're a strang person trying to break into the house...

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Originally Posted by Jase

Maybe there should be a state mandated test that owners should take to aquire proper licensing to handle certain animals. IE specific tests for specific species, it could possibly make aquiring certain species more difficult from the buyers point of view, but in the long run would probably weed out a lot of potential owners that dont know what they're getting into.

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A test would only serve to get a reptile black market in full swing, causing higher prices for the reptiles themselves, and even those who breed and sell out of thier homes or small breeding facilities probably would not make someone take a test, they are out for the $, lets not forget that, they are not going to want to hang onto a snake till the "right and satisfactory owner" come along- cause that may be NEVER depending on the test results you "must" have to get the animal in the first place. And I think it may be a bit on the unconstitutional side too.

Very good point jeanne, i tend to forget exactly how bad our society can get, and how quickily making something illegal could allow breeders to charge ridiculous amounts to sell to non-certified(if there were testing) buyers

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and even those who breed and sell out of thier homes or small breeding facilities probably would not make someone take a test, they are out for the $

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Interesting statement made there as most small breeders that I know of keep their reptiles for the love of herps and nothing to do with money except for the little bit of extra income to help feed and house their collections properly
If you think small time breeders make alot of money think again.. they cant possibly compete with large scale breeders I produce very little on a yearly basis and my monthy expendature for my collection far out weighs monthly income a couple of clutches of eggs a year will not pay the electric bill or feed bill, much less line your pockets

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lets not forget that, they are not going to want to hang onto a snake till the "right and satisfactory owner

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I dont know of a single large scale breeder that screens customers...

I can only hope that this ban does not get passed. Granted, I do not own any of the reptiles that are proposed to be balled (gators, large constrictors, etc.) But how long would it be before something as harmless as a ball python could be banend also?

EDIT
I just looked up a few things on the NYS website. There's a page that you can type in a word, and all of the recent bills that have that word in them will come up.

http://public.leginfo.state.ny.us/menugetf.cgi

I do not see anything about the proposed ban though, because these are only bills which have passed. I am pretty fascinated that in NY, day-cares are not allowed to have reptiles or amphibians in them!

I've already posted the link here for someone on the act ...
It doesn't ban all reptiles ...
Mostly large ones like Burmese Pythons.

Oh man...I can tell you all about being an underground herper. I have my whole bedroom closet designed to hold my herps and to be able to conceal everything in a heartbeat. The only people that know I am into snakes is all of you guys and gals ( be careful...don't spoil my secret..hahahaha ) and a few close personal friends that sorta think I am a little nuts but tolerate my hobby. Other than that I don't advertise to anybody about me and my herps. I have no doubt that my manager would probably flip her cork is she knew I have an apartment full of snakes...heh heh heh

EyeLashViper

welph kids, the ban apparently got passed by our gracious governor pataki. My friend lives in a little town called Machias a county over from me. The town gave her a list of what you can and cannot own without obtaining a $100-a year permit. The list includes some pretty outrageous things like polar bears, monkeys, and other primates, in addition to all venomous snakes, and boas or pythons over ten feet in length.
The purpose of this crap is that there's concern about fire; I guess that the fear is that firefighters would be injured or killed by dangerous animals if the house they're kept in were to go up in flames. So the idea is that anyone owning "exotics" on the list gets his/her house examimned by a state employee, pays $100, and then might or might not get approved to keep said exotics.
So, say there's a fire in my house. Are the firefighters going to measure my boa, among the flames, to see if it is ten feet or less?
This is all so ridiculous. It's a catchall list of animals that includes such harmless things as fish and nonvenomous small snakes. I am just relieved that it does not include any of the species I keep, but if they got their foot in the door, how long until ball pythons are banned too?
I definately know a senator I am NOT voting for next election.

Fish...since when would you need a permit for fish!!

Sharks, large stingrays...are one thing, smaller fish are another.
Does this mean I'd have to get a permit for clownfish..eesh.

I don't think I want to live in NY.

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Originally Posted by Ginevive

The purpose of this p00 is that there's concern about fire; I guess that the fear is that firefighters would be injured or killed by dangerous animals if the house they're kept in were to go up in flames. So the idea is that anyone owning "exotics" on the list gets his/her house examimned by a state employee, pays $100, and then might or might not get approved to keep said exotics.

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ok so what if you have a watch dog, or any other dog that might become frightened and bite a stranger? or what if you keep a gun and/or ammunition in your house? or what if there is an elderly person living in the house and they have an oxygen tank? the whole issue with the firefighters getting injured by a snake is absolutely ridiculous. there are a great number of other things much more dangerous to a firefighter than a snake. i can't even believe that that is the reasoning behind the ban.