This makes me mad...

[Ginevive]

I read this link, from another BP site. It enrages me. i can't believe that animal control officers are wasting time confiscating well cared-for herps, when there are doubtlessly many "domestic" animals in the area who are being starved and neglected. This kind of thing really aggrevates me... and it really upsets me that, here in America, people can go into your home and take your herps.
Then again, it does upset me that the guy was keeping rattlers and gators, while his boa was found out of its cage.

http://www.delawareonline.com/newsjo...esseizedf.html

[Marla]

That is truly a shame. For a responsible herper to lose his pets like that -- and not even be given the chance to appeal or to sell off his collection himself -- just isn't fair. (I know, Dad, I hear you, "Life isn't fair." *sigh*)

[padiente]

Ok, here is my deal, if you are going to make something illegal, there should be differentation between, poisonous/venomous and non-poisonous/venomous, as they are far from the same thing, you could even limit the size of the animals, if you were really anal, but making them illegal all together in one blanket law is just stupid. And taking them away is plently of punishment, adding a fine would just be rubbing salt in a wound and adding insult to injury. Grr. I am so ready to take on the lawmakers in this. Who's with me?

[sophie42204]

I love how they say that they confiscated "• 2 poisonous pygmy rattlesnakes" don't they mean venomous??

That is a shame and makes me wonder when all exotics will be illegal in all states.

[Schlyne]

After reading the article, I'm wondering what exactly he violated, other than "New Castle County does not give permits to residents to keep exotic pets on less than an acre of land."

At first the article says "Although the animals were well cared for, the 13 exotic pets were confiscated because it is illegal to own them in New Castle County, said SPCA Director John Caldwell." After that, it says the county doesn't give permits to residents to keep exotic pets on less than an acre. I'm guessing the latter one is true.

I have no idea if venomous snakes are illegal to keep in NJ though. Apparently they didn't take snapping turtle or his other "small domestic animals", which weren't illegal.

[Freakie_frog]

I agree that it is a shame that he lost his pets. But the bottom line is he was knowingly breaking the law. The animals are being no less cared for than they were before. If where he live says that to keep such pets you need x amount of space then it was poor judgement on his part to try and get away with it

[daftperception]

I think the point we are trying to make is that these laws are stupid I think these people should walk in are shoes for a day they make a law for a stupid problem only because hey wy not only a small amount of people will be affected srew that small minority. It's like people without kids telling you how to raise them.