North Carolina ALERT and Florida update

[Bogertophis]

ALERT: North Carolina Animal Bans Some North Carolina legislators are seeking to ban some reptiles and other “exotic” or “dangerous wild” animals. This effort is happening after an irresponsible venomous snake keeper allowed a spitting cobra to escape. This careless keeper violated current state law and now faces at least 40 charges. North Carolina herpetoculturists (not just venomous keepers) and other animal owners should contact their legislators to oppose knee-jerk legislation. Read our full ALERT with more information, sample messaging, and more at the links below. Website Alert: https://usark.org/2021-nc/ Facebook Alert: https://www.facebook.com/UnitedStatesAssociationOfReptileKeepers/photos/a.398227663592526/4114587065289882/ USARK Florida Lawsuit Update from July 2 The court awarded injunctive relief but with a limited scope. Read more at https://usarkfl.wildapricot.org/news/10722240. Membership T-shirt Update Thanks for your support! We received specific updates from the shipper on June 15. Membership shirts through 2/21 have been shipped (unless we ran out of your size). Memberships starting on 2/22 are being shipped now, as well as those back-ordered due to size. Our current run of shirts is being printed and then shipped as they become available. We had a delay securing enough shirts as supply is still low due to COVID-related issues but we did get shirts for this large order. There was a disclaimer when you registered at the top of the page that shirts may take 6-8 weeks to arrive and we realize some members have already waited longer. Our new system will get shirts out much faster after we are done playing catch-up. Our apologies again for the delay but we are working to get all shirts out and to avoid this problem in the future. Have a good day. ALERT: North Carolina “traveling animal act” ban House Bill 594 (H594) is another “traveling animal act” ban that misleads as to its intention. This bill, titled “Traveling Animal and Public Safety Protection Act,” includes an introduction rife with misinformation with the intent to spark emotion from the reader. H594 prohibits using certain animals (list at the link and even includes tortoises and small monitors) in "traveling animal acts," which will include the educational outreach programs provided by many animal keepers. The punishment is a Class II misdemeanor with a maximum penalty of 60 days in jail and a $1,000 fine. PLEASE READ THE LAST SENTENCE AGAIN! With all of the problems in our world, we actually have to fight a bill that could land you in jail for 60 days because you took a tortoise to a classroom to talk about reptiles. Full details at the links below. Website ALERT: https://usark.org/alert-nc-2021/ Facebook ALERT: https://www.facebook.com/UnitedStatesAssociationOfReptileKeepers/photos/a.398227663592526/3881285385286719/ Shipping Live Herps Responsibly and Ethically Animal welfare is both a priority and a special concern when shipping live reptiles and amphibians. When conditions around shipping pose a hazard that cannot be otherwise mitigated, reptiles should not be shipped. Read our full statement at https://usark.org/2021-safe-shipping/. On Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/UnitedStatesAssociationOfReptileKeepers/photos/a.398227663592526/3737466813001911/. Find A Vet Need a good herp veterinarian? The Association of Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians (ARAV) can help. ARAV provides a free Find-A-Vet service at http://arav.site-ym.com/search/custom.asp?id=3661.

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