California Residents!

[joshwilson]

I was reading Reptiles Magazine and came across this. California is considering new legislation (Assembly Bill 2862). This legislation could have a big impact on all reptile and amphibian owners in California. It basically involves pet stores, and would ban the sale of captive-bred native California herps, it would also ban the sale of unweaned feeder rodents and require pet stores to take your name, address and phone number when you purchase an animal. If you wish to contact your assemblyman you can find out who your assemblyman is by entering your zip code at http://www.amazonreptile.com/cptlal.html
You can read the full text of the proposed bill at http://www.assembly.ca.gov and searching for the bill's number (2862)
Wasn't sure where to post this, I think we need a Legislative forum. Thanks

 

[Jedi Master Bruce]

It is amazing that everyone is always preaching that this is such a free and capitalist society, but when it comes to animals they want to impose marxist/socialist laws all the time.

 

[Arconna]

My understanding from reading the little bit that I did and from what others who are more involved in this is that it won't affect feeder animals. I mostly will refer to selling animals as pets that are under a certain age. I could be wrong, but that's my understanding.
It will have an adverse affect on breeders though because it might force those that run a business to maintain vet visits, certain enclosure sizes depending on the animal (which might get rid of rack systems for many animals), and some other rules that will essentially hurt breeders. I agree with a lot of what is written in the bill because it will forces pet stores to actually take care of their animals properly. That's a big plus. The downside is all this other crap. They will band Cali native animals, which means almost all Kingsnakes. I wrote my assembly man already about this. It's absurd because the Cali King is not really captured from the wild. They are bred in captivity for the most part now (there are exceptions to wholesalers and others). It's just a stupid bill. The bad outweighs the good 100 fold and it should not be allowed in. Unfortunately it passed it's first test I believe and needs to go to the next level before going on the ballot (I think, I'm not positive, I read somewhere it had gone to the next stage...).
Bruce, the most amazing part about it is that legislation that controls pets are usually based on ignorance. Look at Pit Bull bans and other dog bans. Yes, those dogs can be dangerous, but it's not the dogs fault. The owners raise them that way. People however are paranoid and whenever something wrong happens they want to ban it. It's idiotic at best. The same has been going on for reptiles all over the country. Any time some idiot who thinks "hey I should get a reticulated python" and then gets kill by it or it gets loose and eats the neighbors cat, they get closer to banning them everywhere. I don't think people as a rule should keep snakes that large, but to ban them simply because stupid people don't know how to take care of them properly is not right.
This is just what happens in society when people leave their brains at home. Stupidity is no excuse for idiotic politics...

 

[silentjohn]

. It's absurd because the Cali King is not really captured from the wild. They are bred in captivity for the most part now (there are exceptions to wholesalers and others)....

You can catch and keep a WC CA king, and you can catch and breed up to 4 WC kings (with a breeder's permit). You can't sell any native WC reptiles at all, whether a wholesaler or individual.

 

[brandy101010]

This has already happend in New Jersey. You need a permit to buy just about any reptile except iguanas. (which I would think they would be one of the ones that should require a permit) Also you are required to give your name, address, and phone number when buying feeders. and not aloud to buy,sell,or even keep alot of native herps. It's really not that bad, more of a hassle really. You have to renew your permit every year for 10 bucks. But one permit covers all your herps. You just have to update anything that you have added or anything you no longer have.

 

[silentjohn]

This has already happend in New Jersey. You need a permit to buy just about any reptile except iguanas. (which I would think they would be one of the ones that should require a permit) Also you are required to give your name, address, and phone number when buying feeders. and not aloud to buy,sell,or even keep alot of native herps. It's really not that bad, more of a hassle really. You have to renew your permit every year for 10 bucks. But one permit covers all your herps. You just have to update anything that you have added or anything you no longer have.

I just think it is rediculous, and an invasion of privacy, to have to give out all my personal information to the government, and the pet store just because I keep a snake, or buy feeders. It's absurd. Not to mention now the store has all my pertinent info if I paid by Credit Card. Not info I want some pet store employee to have.

 

[wilomn]

It happened down here in L A county long ago, and may still be in effect even though no one does it anymore.

All they used to ask for was a name and address. They were never specific about WHOSE name and address were used. I think there was a time or two, as we used to have to do this even for feeders, that I used the name and address of the store itself.

Oh, John, it is my understanding that if you have the Permit to breed native species you are not limited to 4 W/C. You simply need to disclose that they are. That's the way it used to be, back when it was started. I've kept so few W/C animals that I don't know if it's changed or not.

 

[silentjohn]

It happened down here in L A county long ago, and may still be in effect even though no one does it anymore.

All they used to ask for was a name and address. They were never specific about WHOSE name and address were used. I think there was a time or two, as we used to have to do this even for feeders, that I used the name and address of the store itself..

That's funny. If that law does pass, my name is john doe and I live at 123 main st. :main_laugh:

Oh, John, it is my understanding that if you have the Permit to breed native species you are not limited to 4 W/C. You simply need to disclose that they are. That's the way it used to be, back when it was started. I've kept so few W/C animals that I don't know if it's changed or not.

I'm pretty sure it was 4 of each (king, rosy, gopher), but since I decided to get out of native breeding my paper work is stored somewhere, could be mistaken though...maybe.

 

[wilomn]

Anytown, USA

 

[Arconna]

It's a stupid law. Making us have to give our information when we buy animals from a store or breeder is pointless and absurd. What could they possibly use that information for? Track down illegal sales? Well if that's the case, why the heck would someone selling illegal animals keep a record of who they sold them to?
Anyone have a logical reason for forced record keeping?

 

[PaulSage]

I would assume it's to establish a history in the event of an "issue", but then again, it is the government we're talking about, and logical reasoning is not a required factor.