I spoke with our Senator today via telephone for about an hour about this proposed legislation. He spent most of this week investigating everything so he had a better idea of what the bill was all about.
Here's the bottom line people. Like it or not, there have been some reptile owners who have done an incredible disservice to all of us for their poor judgement and lack of responsibility regarding the care, or lack thereof of the pets they committed themselves to own. Even today we've had another story relating how an owner abandoned several reptiles in their home as if they didn't even exist. When this happens we play right into the politicians' hands that want these pets banned.
So, while my senator agrees the law seems a bit "extreme", he posed a VERY valid question that will undoubtedly be asked when this bill is challenged next week. What do we, as current reptile owners, propose to Congress to curb the continued abuse and utter blatant neglect and abandonment of these animals? What can we do to promise these politicians that we can help curb the problems that have stemmed from the improper care and behavior of a minority of reptile owners?
It's easy for us to sit here and write e-mails, send form letters and make post after post about this bill. But what we REALLY need to do is come up with alternatives to the problems we are seeing in our hobby. It's not enough to just sit here and forward form letters and so forth without coming up with legitimate options to put an end to the problems we see on a daily basis. While it is true there is a misguided perception that our pets are dangerous and potentially lethal, it still doesn't help to continually have stories such as the one currently on MSNBC exposing the people who neglect these animals.
So, when asked by my senator what I proposed to help eliminate this problem, I brought up the possibility of applying for a permit to keep these animals. By doing so, people might think twice before making a spur-of-the-moment purchase of a snake, bearded dragon, or whatever. Yes, we would have to pay a fee, however it would be a one-time fee and we would be recorded in a database so if anything did happen and a registered owner neglected his reptile or released it illegally, it would be possible for that person to be held accountable for his irresponsibility. I also suggested "tagging" the animals so if they did show up in the wild they could be traced to their owner and they would have to answer for their actions that way.
The bottom line is, we not only need to continue to bombard our representatives to fight this proposed legislation, we need to come up with viable options so we have answers for the renegades who want to ban our pets entirely.
Just some extra food for thought people. Let's hear your ideas!!!