USARK in D.C. and Several State Legislative Issues/Updates

[ER12]

USARK President Phil Goss spent time advocating and attending several meetings in Washington, D.C. this week. Upon arrival, Goss met with USARK's legal team to discuss our ongoing federal lawsuit. The case is now before its third assigned judge and has not seen action since late last year. Strategy was discussed to move the case forward and strengthen our complaints. This case is about much more than the species currently listed as injurious under the Lacey Act. We will provide updates as they become available. For FAQ regarding the Constrictor Rule, click here: www.usark.org/2014-blog/constrictor-rule-1/.

Goss met with several groups affected by animal rights legislation. A roundtable united like-minded advocates to discuss pending threats and critical issues. Local, state and federal concerns were all addressed, and USARK provided the voice for the herp community. Meetings such as this greatly strengthen our fight, in addition to providing crucial networking. Working with other groups and true advocates is essential to form an organized effort when battling the behemoth that is the animal rights movement.

We must realize that this is not just our fight and more than the herp community is being targeted. All pet communities (even dogs and cats), family farms, fishermen and many more are in the crosshairs. The AR movement has a final goal of ending all interactions between humans and animals. If you are a pet owner, horse rider or believe your life is enhanced in any manner thanks to animals, you are not an animal rights activist. If you give yourself this label, you do not have a full understanding of the animal rights movement.

Another meeting of note, in addition to advocating in D.C., included conference with the Amphibian Survival Alliance (ASA) and Marshall Meyers at Meyers' law office. The salamander fungus Bsal was the topic. Moratorium alternatives, quarantine protocols, most recent research, testing, etc. were all discussed. We'll provide updates as they become available. You can read more on Bsal from USARK at http://www.us4.campaign-archive1.com...&id=2a51d02304.

Pennsylvania SB 263

Senate Bill 263 has been introduced and assigned to the Senate Game and Fisheries Committee. The bill would end issuance of any exotic wildlife permits after December 31, 2015, meaning no private keepers could attain additional animals after that date.

SB 263 amends Title 34 to define "exotic wildlife" as: "all nonindigenous animals regardless of whether the animals are bred or reared in captivity or imported from another nation or state." This broad definition would mean all mammals, no matter size, would be considered "exotic wildlife" in PA.

There are a few exemptions: The term does not include any member of the class Aves (birds), any member of the families Equidae (horses, asses and zebras), Camelidae (camels, alpacas and llamas), Cervidae (deer, moose and elk), Bovidae (wild cattle and spiral-horned antelopes), Muridae (rats and mice), Chinchillidae (chinchillas and viscachas), Leporidae (rabbits and hares), Petauridae (gliders and striped possums) or any member of the species Mustela furo (domestic ferrets) or Cavia porcellus (domestic guinea pigs) or any domestic animal as that term is defined in 18 Pa.C.S. § 5511 (relating to cruelty to animals)

The bill would make it unlawful to allow members of the public the opportunity to come into direct contact with exotic wildlife. It also adds language to the definition of an exotic animal dealer to include: "engages in at least five documented transactions annually involving exotic wildlife."

While the new definition of exotic wildlife outwardly seems to include herps, it doesn't. Herps are regulated under Title 30 in PA and fall under the jurisdiction of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. Title 34, affected by this bill, dealing with mammals and birds falls under the jurisdiction of the Pennsylvania Game Commission. However, herpers should still lend support to those within the exotic pet community that will be affected.

Read the bill at http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/...r=0263&pn=0143.

Contact committee members at http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/...=11&CteeBody=S.

Contact the lead sponsor at http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/...io.cfm?id=1187.

Track the bill at http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/...&type=b&bn=263.

Kansas SB 132

As posted on our website, Senate Bill 132 was introduced on 2/2/15 and assigned to the Senate Natural Resources Committee yesterday. This is a re-emergence of HB 2737 from last year. The bill amends the current law passed in 2005 regarding "Dangerous regulated animals" which prohibited the following: all non-native, venomous snakes; lions, tigers, leopards, jaguars, cheetahs and mountain lions, or any hybrid thereof; bears or any hybrid thereof; any nonhuman primate (added); any wolf (added), excluding hybrids.

This bill seeks to remove the exemption for USDA-accredited facilities from the "Dangerous regulated animals" law. It also proposes new restrictions regulating that members of the public must be separated by sufficient distance and protective barriers when near "dangerous regulated animals" of any age. More information at www.usark.org/2015-kansas-sb-132/.

Texas Exotic Animal Bill

A meeting was held on 1/22 with Representative Guillen's staff and those interested in an upcoming exotic animal bill. At this time, the bill will likely include a ban on private ownership of large exotic animals (i.e. big cats, bears, large primates) in urban areas and a statewide registration system for listed species. It was announced there will be another meeting for stakeholders to review the bill once it has been drafted.

Currently regulated animals requiring local registration certificates:

lions, tigers, ocelots, cougars, leopards, cheetahs, jaguars, bobcats, lynxes, servals, caracals, hyenas, bears, coyotes, jackals, baboons, chimpanzees, orangutans, gorillas, or any hybrids of the animals listed.

The current Texas "Dangerous Wild Animals" law can be found here (scroll down to Subchapter E): http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.u...htm/HS.822.htm.

Thanks to TXARK - Texas Association of Reptile Keepers, Texas Primate Owners United and others who have been active on this issue.

View our previous post with contact information at http://www.facebook.com/UnitedStates...type=1&theater.

Indiana SB 266

As announced on our Facebook page, Indiana SB 226 was killed in committee on 2/26 with a vote of 3-5. This bill would have required a double-regulation for USDA-licensed facilities. If passed, USDA facilities not only would need to be in compliance with federal law, but also state law, and would have been inspected by both USDA and IN DNR agents. More information at www.usark.org/2015-legislation/in-sb-226/.

View the current Indiana Wild Animal Law at http://www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/files...nPermitReg.pdf. Regulated under the law are venomous reptiles, crocodilians over 5′, and some mammals (viewable at link).

Action Alert: West Virginia
Repeal the Dangerous Wild Animals Act!

Click here for 2 Action Alerts: http://www.usark.org/2015-legislatio...irgina-sb-247/.

Now is your opportunity to make a difference. SB 247 has been introduced by Senators Trump, Blair, Walters and Nohe, and is a bill to repeal the WV Dangerous Wild Animals Act. View the bill at http://www.usark.org/wp-content/uplo...-WV-SB-247.pdf. It was referred to the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development. All WV residents on Facebook should Like and follow the WV Chapter of USARC page at www.facebook.com/pages/WV-Chapter-of-USARC.

A late 2014 update covering USARK's work on the WV DWA Act can be read at http://us4.campaign-archive2.com/?u=...&id=4f9ebe7935.

WV SB 222 and its companion bill HB 2361 have also been introduced. They place the amended DWA rule before the WV Legislature. These bills amend the rule proposed by the DWA Board and streamline the list of species as suggested by the WV Legislative Rule-Making Review Committee last November. For example, through the work of USARK and the Reptile Nation, this bill removes all constrictor snakes from the DWA list. However, current efforts should be focused upon SB 247. SB 222 moved out of the Ag. Committee with a "do pass" backing. Since these are rule-making bills, they must leave committees and be presented for full votes under WV law. HB 2361 went to committee today.

Canada Action Alert

USARK gladly assisted CANHerp with a proposed expansive ban in the municipality of Chatham-Kent. This is an ugly by-law proposal banning nearly all pets except dogs, cats and fish. You can view the Action Alert at www.usark.org/action-alert-canada-chatham-kent/.

Canadians should follow and contact CANHerp at www.canherp.com and www.facebook.com/canherp for updates and further actions.

SnakeDays Grant

For the first time, SnakeDays will be offering a Student Research Grant, which we plan to offer
yearly going forward. For those not aware of the event, SnakeDays is an educational gathering held in Sanderson, TX every summer which focuses on the herpetofauna of west Texas and the importance of contributions made by citizen science. In addition to a day of lectures, we have a fundraiser which, to date, has raised over $25,000 that has gone directly to herp conservation and research.

For more information on the grant, click here: http://usark.org/wp-content/uploads/...t-2015-PDF.pdf.

Reptile Events

NARBC: February 7-8 in Arlington, TX. Show details at www.narbc.com/Arlington/arlington.html.

Repticon: Feb 7-8 in Columbia, SC. Show details at www.repticon.com

Kentucky Reptile Expo: Feb. 7 in Bowling Green, KY. More details at www.kentuckyreptileexpo.com/.

New York Metro Reptile Expo: February 8th in White Plains, NY. Show details at www.reptileexpo.com/nyfirst.htm.

All Ohio Reptile Show: Feb. 14 in Hilliard, OH. More details at www.allohioreptileshows.webs.com.

Indiana Reptile Breeders' Expo: February 15 in Clarksville, IN. More details at www.irbexpo.com.

Repticon: Feb 21-22 in Southaven, MS. Show details at www.repticon.com

Midwest Reptile Show: March 1 in Indianapolis, IN. Show details at www.midwestreptile.com/index.php.

Cin City Reptile Show: March 8 in Mason, OH. More details at www.cincityreptileshow.com.

Cold Blooded Expo: March 8 in Overland Park, KS. Show details at www.coldbloodedexpos.com/kc-reptile-show/.

NARBC: March 14-15 in Tinley Park, IL. Show details at www.narbc.com/Tinley/tinley_park.html.

Lone Star Reptile Expo: March 20-21 in Arlington, TX. Show details at www.lonestarreptileexpos.com/home.html and www.facebook.com/LSRExpos.

PACNWRS - Pacific Northwest Reptile & Exotic Animal Show: March 28-29 in Hillsboro, OR. Show details at www.pacnwrs.com.

New England Reptile Expo: March in Manchester, NH. Show details at www.reptileexpo.com/nefirst.htm.

Texas Rattlesnake Festival: April 11-12 in Round Rock, TX. Details at www.texasrattlesnakefestival.com.

Cold Blooded Expo: April 12 in Broken Arrow, OK. Show details at www.coldbloodedexpos.com/ok-reptile-expo/.

OKC Elite Reptile Show: May 9-10 in Oklahoma City, OK. Show details soon at www.okcelitereptileshow.com.

International Herpetological Symposium: May 27-30 in San Antonio, TX. Details at www.internationalherpetologicalsymposium.com.

Snake Days: June 12-14 in Sanderson, TX. This is a lecture/field herping event. Details and more at www.snakedays.com.

Reptile Super Show: July 18-19 in San Diego, CA. Show details at www.reptilesupershow.com.

Portland Metro Reptile Expo: August 29 in Portland, OR. Show details at http://www.nwreptileexpos.com/portla...o-reptile-expo.

H.E.R.P.S. - Houston Exotic Reptile and Pet Show: October 3-4 in Conroe, TX. Show details at www.herpshow.net and www.facebook.com/HERPShow.

NARBC: October 10-11 in Tinley Park, IL. Show details at www.narbc.com/Tinley/tinley_park.html.

[Daigga]

The Texas legislation came up on my Facebook from a gentleman called Doug Terranova. This is what he said about it;

Texas Legislative Update

On Thursday, Jan. 22, at the request of Rep Ryan Guillen, and a USZA member who graciously paid for my travel expenses, I traveled to Austin for a "stakeholders meeting" on a piece of animal legislation he intends to propose. For those that are not aware, a stakeholder is anyone that has an interest in the outcome of the bill.

Both animal activists and animal owners were well represented, along with three Texas Agencies. The attendees included 2 HSUS members, Nicole Paquette from DC and Katie Jarl, Texas State Director, and their lobbyist, Joe Garcia one HSUS/Black Beauty Ranch officer, Noelle Almrud. Four Texas Humane Legislative Network (THLN) members Headed up by Robert "Skip" Trimble,and a lobbyist for a primate rescue group, Michael Murray, that was opposed to private ownership. The animal owners were represented by The president of Waste Management, who is an exotic animal breeder, Tiger Missing Link Foundation director of Animal Care, Brian Werner, "All things Wild" staff member Marcus Cook, ZAA lobbyist Robert Saunders, Texas Primate Owners United (TPOU) President Margaret Hosseini, David Browder, private primate owner, Michelle Smith, representing her facility of mainly primates, and Myself representing the United States Zoological Association (USZA).

Representing the interests of their respective departments were William Kuntz, Executive Director and Brian Francis, Deputy Executive Director of the TX. Dept. Of Licensing and Regulation, Rick Thompson, Legislative Laison, from the Texas Association of Counties and both Major Larry Young and Assistant Commander Kevin Davis of the Texas Parks and Wildlife. I missed the name of the lobbyist representing the Veterinarians and Primarily Primates.

The meeting started off with Rep Guillen stating that there are an overabundance of exotics in Texas and we needed to know where they were. In July we were given a figure of over 3300 big cats in Texas. Our research showed that there were only 572. The activists claimed the rest were unregulated. TX Dept.Of licensing and Registration had done a survey and came up with a grand total of 72 dangerous wild animals in Texas that were unregulated..only 14 were tigers. Their testimony was that there is no need for this in a "less government" minded administration. Score one for us!

Texas Parks and Wildlife gave up exotics in 1997 and stated they had no intention of taking them back on now. They testified that they have no knowledge or expertise in that area. Score again!

The Counties are tasked with registering now and, according to the man that wrote the Dangerous Wild Animal Act, "Skip" Trimble, they aren't doing it so we need a new law! When I asked him who would write it he said he would to which I then reminded him he just said the last one he wrote didn't work. Rep Guillen wants a State wide registry for Dangerous Wild Animals (DWA) because the counties aren't doing it. Even though it's not necessary I agreed to support it (since we already register anyway) IF they took ALL exemptions off the table and AZA zoos as well as Sanctuaries and colleges had to register as well. HSUS agreed to that. I believe the Sanctuaries and zoos will balk and kill any chance of this passing anyway. Rep Guillen said he would look at reducing the number of animals on the list as a way of making this a smaller scale registration. Smaller primates would not be affected, and hopefully wolf hybrids and smaller felines (Servals, etc.) would be removed. I am all for that. I DO worry that they will come back at a later date and try to start adding species.

In the end HSUS started talking about an Urban Ban. Banning them from areas of over 150,000. That wipes out the bigger zoos, I said. Then the EXEMPTION word popped up again. There was much resistance from our end of the table. Brian Francis, from TX Dept of Licensing and Regulations said we could exempt all existing facilities and commercial operations.. he had no idea the attack he would get from the HSUS side! Skip Trimble jumped in telling Parks and Wildlife they needed to step up and take this back over as they had Law Enforcement Authority and Katie Jarl chimed in about how frustrating they were being! Gotta love when they attack an agency they want to do something! I told Rep Guillen that I would support an Urban Ban as long as EVERYONE currently in place when this law takes effect was allowed to continue not only their existence but be allowed to perpetually operate in the manner they are doing now. When Margaret Hosseini asked what was prompting all of this BOTH Rep Guillen AND HSUS at the same time said OHIO. She pointed out that IF you believe he did that, registration wouldn't have stopped him.

Since no agency wants to take on the registration and enforcement of this Brian Werner suggested setting up a Registration Agency, incorporate it as a 501(c)3 and appoint two from each side of the table to the board, along with a neutral chair. It would be funded through the registration fees. HSUS VP of Wildlife Protection, Nicole Paquette, jumped out of her chair and stated there was no such model anywhere in the US and it couldn't work. I said "Then Texas can lead the nation". The State Agencies loved it! In the end Rep Guillen left us with the understanding that he would do as much research into that scenario as possible, put something together and share it with us all before he introduced it. He has his work cut out for him! On a final not PLEASE people, this is not cheap and no one person can afford to fight this. PLEASE consider donating to USZA, The Cavalry Group, and TPOU. So that we can continue to fight for your rights to own these animal!

It looks like Texas law doesn't really include reptiles for the most part.

[Bluebonnet Herp]

The Texas legislation came up on my Facebook from a gentleman called Doug Terranova. This is what he said about it;



It looks like Texas law doesn't really include reptiles for the most part.

Wait, so is there plans to remove servals? Please tell me they're actually removing servals from the dangerous wild animals list.

[KingObeat]

Wait, so is there plans to remove servals? Please tell me they're actually removing servals from the dangerous wild animals list.

It would also be great if they removed bobcats, lynx, and caracal.

[Bluebonnet Herp]

It would also be great if they removed bobcats, lynx, and caracal.

This is true, but less likely as people aren't as familiar of these being kept as pets as they are with servals. Then again, if they consider it, hey, I'm all for it!

[Daigga]

It would be cool if they removed smaller wildcats from the list, and if they can hang on to the no exemptions policy then it might be very possible. I would say others are likely to be removed for the same reason, but honestly the list of "dangerous wild animals" restricted under Texas law is really short and I can't see them shortening it by much more. Coyotes maybe, but I can't see them taking off any large cat, bear, or primate which is basically all there is left after you take out small wildcats.

If anyone didn't know, the Texas DWA act covers lions, tigers, ocelots, cougars, leopards, cheetahs, jaguars, bobcats, lynxes, servals, caracals, hyenas, bears, coyotes, jackals, baboons, chimpanzees, orangutans, gorillas, and any hybrids of those mentioned.