PA House bill 1398

[sgath92]

I got a response from Senator Jay Costa (D-Allegany) today.

The response reveals, and I would argue is proof-positive that the law will in fact ban everything not native to the state of PA [except for the animals given specific exclusions in the bill, such as cows, cats, dogs, etc].

Dear Ms. Gath:

Thank you for contacting me to relate your concerns about House Bill 1398, which would prohibit Pennsylvanians from keeping certain exotic animals as pets. I appreciate your interest in this matter and I understand your concerns about this bill.

As you are likely aware, House Bill 1398 has passed the House and the Senate Committee on Game and Fisheries and was considered by the Senate for the first of three times on March 28, 2012. I expect that this bill will next be considered by the Senate Appropriations Committee, as most bills are. In light of recent events and a substantial amount of anecdotal evidence that keeping these animals as pets is an ill-conceived idea, I agree that it is appropriate for the Commonwealth to evaluate its policy on these pets. I will keep your concerns about this bill in mind, however, as it moves through the legislative process.

Again, thank you for taking the time to contact me about this matter. Please feel free to contact me if I can assist you in any way.

Sincerely yours,

Senator Jay Costa, Jr.

43rd District

So in other words, because of Zanesville they want to ban ALL non-native species from captivity in the state of PA. Including all reptiles, amphibians, spiders and all fish. That's right, you'd be liable to fines or prison for keeping a betta.

This was my response. We shall see if I am given a reply:

Senator Costa,

By "keeping these animals as pets is an ill-conceived idea" do you really mean to include under the scope of this bill tropical fish kept in household fishtanks, frogs, tarantula spiders kept as pets by school children, and small turtles & lizards?

Because HB1398 will ban everything except the specific animals given specific exemptions in the bill, this will be a defacto ban of all amphibians, reptiles, spiders, and fish. Not just the animals you believe to be dangerous.

Your citizen,

S. Gath