UPDATE:

I just got off the phone with Delegate Daryl Cowles and although he's against it he's pretty sure it's going to pass. As amended today, the SB477 as we know it is no longer valid as the amendments were to push the rulemaking out to external committees (Department of Agriculture, Department of Natural Resources, etc).

His advice to me was that if we call and/or email between now and Saturday to include "Oppose SB477 even as amended" in the subject line because if we just put "Oppose SB477" the delegates aren't likely to take it into consideration because they'll assume we're just talking about the old version that is no longer valid.

He also told me that the committee process, even if it passes, will take 14-16 months along with a public comment period, to be brought into enforceable law....meaning we don't have to start selling off our animals yet.

I was also told that he raised the question of "what is a dangerous animal - even a ferret could bite a child" he was shown a picture of an alligator in some public park in WV and told that "This is why we need to pass this bill" ....which he said was met with several "oh my gosh"-type replies from delegates around him.