Repticon, near Atlanta Jan, anyone coming?

[Stewart_Reptiles]

We do have a DVM check all animals coming from out of state

How about breeder from GA are they check by a vet too?

The albino belonged to a GA breeder and the BP with a tick on it's head belonged to a GA pet store (local to me) that has since closed it's doors.

If anyone sees something they think is sick, mites ect then by all means bring it to our attention.

Will you have your own table? Or how can we get in touch at the show in the event someone needed to bring something to your attention?

[southerncat]

Vendors from GA are suppose to have a health check already. Something department of ag requires them to do.
I have no idea what vendors that would have been.

Like I said before you can always find myself or hubby (Danny) at the information booth. Setup next to the puppet stage/speaker area. Where you go to sign up for the door prizes


Sincerely,
Cathy

PS.... Always come by the info booth and say Hi

[Beardedragon]

I have gone to the past two repticons, both were not up to par. There were very few booths that did not have sick animals or animals with ticks and mites.

I will second that I am not impressed with people being able to bring in reptiles. One person came in with an adult bee ball python which he was selling for $600, about $1000 under what they were going for on the market, so I was interested, I asked about its history ( How old, what it was eating, if it was proven, line of pastel, and a few other things.) and he had none and then told me he was selling it for his sick father. Im almost positive that it was stolen either from his father or who knows where. I do not want to blame anyone but these things like selling stolen animals at the show when you can bring two in sounds all too easy for them to do undetected.

All in all it was a gross show both times, with breeders throwing out sick animals. Id go this time but it just seems like a waste of gas now.

[southerncat]

Matt why wait till now and say that you saw all those sick animals? Why not do it at the show? I am sorry you did not have a good time.

[Beardedragon]

Matt why wait till now and say that you saw all those sick animals? Why not do it at the show? I am sorry you did not have a good time.

Im not one to complain, half the time people will just shrug it off.
If I had said some thing ( No offense) 80% of the show would have been shut down if action had been taken. Im not a frog person but most of the frogs at the front of show did look nice. Whats your uptake about my point with people bringing stolen animals or (like Robin said) sick animals in? The vendors need a heath check( From what vet I ask, most vets that treat reptiles that can give a health check are not worth the thought of even driving there, and do they check all of their animals, or just the select few the vedor brings in?) If you need that then why would you not have the same aply to those bringing in animals to sell trade or for people to look at?

[southerncat]

Im not one to complain, half the time people will just shrug it off.
If I had said some thing ( No offense) 80% of the show would have been shut down if action had been taken. Im not a frog person but most of the frogs at the front of show did look nice. Whats your uptake about my point with people bringing stolen animals or (like Robin said) sick animals in? The vendors need a heath check( From what vet I ask, most vets that treat reptiles that can give a health check are not worth the thought of even driving there, and do they check all of their animals, or just the select few the vedor brings in?) If you need that then why would you not have the same aply to those bringing in animals to sell trade or for people to look at?

We can not fix things if we do not know about them. As far as the 80% thing...That would be your opinion. I believe had it really been that bad Robin and Deb would have been more upset then they were. We do have 1 sometimes 2 vendors that deal with fresh imports And they do have a large booth. Maybe that was some of the stuff you saw.

I have already covered the sick animals and as far as stolen animals. Is there any way to prove that a certian animal is stolen? Most animals are not microchipped and I believe that woulkd be the only way to prove it. And animals are looked at before entering the gate.

We have been using local vets that say they treat exotics and natve snakes. This time I know he does. He has been at the GA Herp show and the Bird show that was held at the Trade Center last week end. Dr. David is with the Loving Hands Animal Clinic.

I hope I have answered all your questions.

[southerncat]

sorry about the typos...Key board keeps messing up

[AaronP]

Matt why wait till now and say that you saw all those sick animals? Why not do it at the show? I am sorry you did not have a good time.

I too can back up what Robin and Matt (Beardedragon) have said. And to be perfectly honest, if there was like 1 or 2 vendor with bad animals I could see where you would be upset that we didn't say anything, but when it was honestly more than 1/2 that's another story. As visitors to the show it isn't our responsibility to make sure the vendors at that show bring animals with acceptable standards of health.

I understand your frustration, but in the case of the last couple of ATL Repticon shows, it should have been obvious. I think if anything you may want to consider the number of people who visit these shows and do not realize there is a problem with the health of these animals, because in the end those are the people who suffer the most.

That said, there are a few Vendors who are Top grade vendors, and honestly I hate to see them suffer because of someone else's mistakes.

[rabernet]

I believe had it really been that bad Robin and Deb would have been more upset then they were.

Cathy, I had the pleasure of meeting you at the GA Herp Society show, and I know you are passionate about the animals, but I will say - when I got home from the spring 2008 show, I stripped out of my clothes when I walked in the door and took a shower and washed the clothes on the hottest cycle. I'm sure much was my imagination, but my skin was crawling after I left.

I did not attend the summer show, but I'm willing to come to the January show to see if it's improved any.

For every one of me that said something, what about all the people that just quietly left and chose not to seek you out to say something? I do share what my experience was when I went, and as I said, to be fair, I'll go again in January to see if it's improved.

But I still think you should re-think allowing people to bring in outside animals to the show. The vendors have to pass vet checks, but those just walking off the street do not. And those people ARE offering their animals for sale to others at the show - how is that fair to your vendors who have to pay to sell animals, who if they live in GA have to have a license to sell at the show?

[cardell75]

I am a licensed Ga. Pet Dealer. I will be at the show, This will be my first time as vendor for one of these shows. I obviously have some concerns after reading this thread and I hope that things are much better this year. I spend alot of time and alot of money to ensure that all my animals are healthy and comply with state regulations. I will also take some additional steps to ensure my animals stay healthy and parasite free at my facility prior to going (PAM everything LOL).
Let me give some insight into Ga Laws WRT animal protection:
1) With very few exceptions, If the animal can occur naturally in the state of Ga it is illegal to own it or sell it as a pet. This includes all indigenous (SP) reptiles/amphibians.
2) Vet checks and certificates are required for all animals brought in from out of state, they are NOT required for animals produced in the state by Dept. of Agriculture regulated pet dealers as long as they sold in the state. if it will leave your possesion and go out of state it needs to have cert. of health.
3) There are 2 Departments that make laws/rules that pertain to animals: Deptartment of Agriculture and the Departmrnt of Natural Resources you should take the time to become familiar with the laws/rules from both of these agencies, if you are a dealer or want to deal in animals in Ga.
The laws are really not that difficult to comply with, they do however take away a large portion of the colubrid market and some popular pets (Sugar Gliders, Quaker Parrots etc...). Being compliant is much easier than having your animals taken away and being fined/or serving jail time IMHO.
Well thats my .02 hope to see you all at the show!! I'm sure it will be a great event!