Please read, about forum rumors and NRIP (long)

[BHB]

Posted on my blog and pasted here:

I don’t believe in getting into Internet wars and falling into the trap of responding to stupid rumors. In this case I’ll respond in this blog because I have been asked to respond on so many forums. If you wish feel more the welcome to post this on any forum or share this anyone you’d like.

The rumor goes, that I’m somehow in negotiations with PIJAC and congress to help put the small reptile breeders out of business with a re-write of hr669.

Lets take a look at this statement so everyone understand how crazy this it. First if I had that kind of power I wouldn’t be breeding snakes, I would be running the country or something. It’s amazing that anyone would think that I have that kind of pull anywhere. Lori hardly lets me make a decision at my house let alone me making backdoor deals with the congress. Second, my customers ARE small breeders and hobbyist, if I put them out of business who do I sell my animals too?? I’m not one of the big breeders that has accounts with the big chain stores. I rely on selling to YOU to pay my bills, I take YOU out of the picture and I don’t have a job! Third, most of this talk evolves around NRIP ( National Reptile Improvement Program) it’s a voluntary program that was implemented in 2003 to help in the heart water tick problem in Florida. As far as I know there are two companies that are accredited with NRIP and I have been vocal on how I do not support the current NRIP program because it would be hard for smaller companies and hobbyist to qualify. I have no doubt that PIJAC if needed will make adjustments, although I think at this time there has been no talk of needing to do anything being that there are bigger fish to fry at the moment. Not to mention hr669 is not a reptile bill. Why would the congress want to implement something that has to do with reptiles when they are talking about ALL non-native species, it just doesn’t make sense???It doesn’t solve their problem. As for my involvement with PIJAC, I am a member and a supporter as well as a member and supporter of USARK. Do I agree with everything that both parties do all the time, absolutely not! They both have holes and I will continue to help if ever asked to make their organizations better for all of us. That’s it nothing more. I don’t have the keys to the car people.

Lastly on a personal note, I was accused of not taking a phone call from someone to explain my position on this. I can promise you that phone call never came from this person. I have talked with hundreds of people over the last month about hr669 and have never shy ed away from anyone. I will at anytime talk to anyone about this topic, so if you want to say I don’t have the balls to talk to you about it. Why don’t you put the proof up that you called me???? Post your phone record??? Because you can’t! You never called or never left a message. You need to grow up and get out of acting like you’re in third grade. I have too much on my plate to deal with people that just want to divide the hobby while I’m doing everything in my power to help unite it.
If we continue down the road trying to make this about PIJAC or USARK or nohr669, we will not have a hobby to have to worry about. Does everyone understand what’s at stake here??? hr669 is not dead, not by a long shot. Not to mention s373 or the other damaging bills that are coming down the pike. Look into what HSUS has in store for us, their postage budget is larger then the entire budget for PIJAC (that’s not a joke). So you think we should be putting the effort into fighting about who deserves the credit for this or that or do you think we should realize who the real enemy is here. I know if I was part of the HSUS right now I would be licking my chops thinking what fools the reptile community is right now. Do we want to join together and support whatever organization we feel fills our needs so we can fight the enemy or do we want to make each other the enemy??? Making up stories and rumors about one another to strengthen our political position in the hobby??? The hobby I’m fighting for is the one that we all put our differences aside when we are threatened like we are now.

This is where I stand and feel free to contact me anyway you want to discuss it further. bhb@comcast.net 586-263-4686