Quote Originally Posted by gncz73 View Post
hello everyone I'm looking for a little help to stop my city before the ban exotics like snakes here's a link to the story in our local paper http://www.macombdaily.com/stories/0..._local02.shtml.
so i email all my Council members and ask to not to go though with it. please help and send a little email asking them not to place a ban on them. here are there email addys and the mayor of my city
Well, I sent it to them just now. I hope it's a little push in the right direction.

Here is what I wrote, it's rushed, but i think it gets the main idea across.

Dear Sir or Madam,

In response to the proposed ban on exotic animals in the City of Warren, I have to point out some very clear misconceptions in regards to the keeping of reptiles and banning any ownership of these exotic animals.

Like many other cities you are faced with the decision on whether or not you should limit the ownership of these animals due to annoyance and welfare to the animals and people living nearby. Regardless of how anyone feels on a personal level whether these animals should be considered “pets” it is up to the individual person to decide how they will take care of these animals on a day to day basis.

If I am correct in my beliefs that this is truly in response to a recent rise in puppy mills around the area, I question how it came to be that all exotic animals are now grouped in with this obviously negative situation. Is there a large propagation of exotics in the area? I have to admit that this seems highly unlikely considering that most people are scared of reptiles, or rather; any animal that is not covered in fur, does not wag its tail and enjoys human companionship.

Reptiles and amphibians are highly misunderstood animals, and their maintenance and daily care is far more in depth than the average pet like dogs or cats. This higher maintenance animal attracts those people from all different backgrounds. I would hope that there is no stereotyping occurring within the local government, believing that any exotic herp is only owned by the degenerates and low life’s of society. I would be extremely offended if this were the case. That any local government should decide that I am incapable of keeping these animals because they have a misconstrued belief about reptiles based completely on media dramatization, folk lore, religious beliefs, or plainly irrational fear.

I take pride in my community of herpetoculturists. We are made of teachers, doctors, lawyers, athletes, home makers, college students; we come from all walks of life with many different religious beliefs, ethnicities, and opinions. The reasoning to put a blanket ban on exotic herps hurts all groups of people, the common fold being the keeping of reptiles. While we as a community also carry our undesirables like any other hobbyist group, they are greatly in the minority and should not be the main reasoning for a ban that would affect hundreds in if not thousands in any city.

I would hope this senseless ban is mediated by an appropriate group to find an acceptable and fair ruling. To force people to give up any animal puts tremendous stress and anxiety on the families, not to mention the hundreds of animals that will be affected if this is passed. Within reason, certain abused and mishandled animals should be monitored, like the original intent of stopping the spread of puppy mills. I do not believe that outlawing exotic animals is in the spirit of saving animals like the original proposals stated, rather this new ban has jumped on the curtails to benefit the few that believe their fears should be materialized in local law. That is persecution stemmed from no education about species often feared unjustly.

Thank you for taking the time to read this urgent message and plea. I hope the decisions you make concerning this community are both fair and reflect the morals on which this country was founded.

Best regards,