ALERT: Connecticut Animal Program Ban This bill is dead for the session. Thank you to everyone who testified and opposed!
UPDATE 3/10: The bill was held/tabled at today’s Committee meeting.
UPDATE 3/9: With short notice, HB5123 should be having a Committee vote tomorrow (3/10). This is a Committee Meeting and not a Public Hearing (which happened on Feb. 27). Any stakeholders should be emailing (again) and/or calling Committee member offices and asking them to vote NO on HB5123. You can find all Environment Committee members here: https://www.cga.ct.gov/env/ (click on Committee Membership)
UPDATE: A hearing (that lasted over twelve hours) was held on February 27 that contained a lot of testimony from both sides. USARK, USARK members, and others provided strong and logical arguments against the bill.
The Connecticut Animal Advocacy Caucus has introduced a traveling exotic animal performance ban (HB5123) again for the 2023 session with some slight differences from previous versions. The bill’s Statement of Purpose: “To prohibit the use of certain animals in traveling animal acts.” This will prohibit using certain animals (listed in our alert) in outreach programs with the assumption that inherent cruelty and abuse are present. There are no exceptions.
Full details, sample messaging, and more at https://usark.org/23ct/.
Facebook alert at https://www.facebook.com/UnitedStatesAssociationOfReptileKeepers/photos/5768594053222500/.
ALERT: Rhode Island Animal Program Ban UPDATE: The Committee recommended that the bill be held for further study (i.e. it was tabled).
This bill had a hearing on March 2 at 4:00 PM. Room 101 in the State House, 82 Smith St., Providence, RI 02903.
Rhode Island House Bill 5703 (HB5703) is another animal program ban with broad-sweeping implications. HB5703 prohibits using any animal except “domestic animals, including, but not limited to, dogs, cats, horses, donkeys, and farm animals” in educational outreach and other programs. This is a ban on educational programs in classrooms, public libraries, at Scout Troop meetings, and more. Violators may be fined $50 to $500 per animal and up to 30 days imprisonment for each day in violation.
Read the full alert and take action at https://usark.org/23ri/.
Facebook alert at https://www.facebook.com/UnitedStatesAssociationOfReptileKeepers/photos/a.398227663592526/5926062970808940.
ALERT: New Mexico Animal Program Ban UPDATE 2/8: After a long debate and discussion, this bill was tabled a second time. It could return this session but hopefully, that is all for this year. Please keep sending your opposition letters! Thank you to everyone who voiced opposition. Your voices made a difference!
New Mexico Senate Bill 134 (SB134) is another “traveling animal act” ban with broad-sweeping implications. SB134 prohibits using any animal except “domesticated dogs, domesticated cats or livestock” in educational outreach and other programs. This is a ban on any "transport and display" of all non-domesticated animals, so that means school programs, fairs, Scout Troops, herp club meetings, and even reptile shows.
Full details athttps://usark.org/23nm/.
Facebook alert at https://www.facebook.com/UnitedStatesAssociationOfReptileKeepers/photos/a.5759179780830594/5795806257167946/.
YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLFT5CU3BR0&t=193s
ALERT: Washington Animal Program Ban UPDATE: This bill should be dead for this session as it failed to meet the deadline for passage through Committee.
SB5148 and HB1157 ban programs with thousands of species including ALL “snakes and reptiles,” ferrets, sugar gliders, and more. Unsuspecting Washingtonians do not know the ramifications of this misleading bill.
Full details, sample messaging, and more at https://usark.org/23wa/.
Facebook alert at https://www.facebook.com/UnitedStatesAssociationOfReptileKeepers/photos/5755090647906174/.
USARK Shirts are Available Online Our shop is open at https://usark.org/product/shirttokay/ (or just click the "Shop" link in the menu) to purchase our current t-shirt (picture at the bottom of this newsletter).
This screen-printed, cotton/polyester blend shirt is extremely soft and wrinkle-resistant with a slightly modern fit (but true to size). U.S. domestic shipping is free! Plus, one USARK sticker per shirt is included.
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