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Wednesday, February 29 2012
 After a late night session, the City Council of Chula Vista, California has removed proposed restrictions regarding reptiles from its upcoming overhaul of pet laws after receiving input from local pet owners and businesses. More than 35 local reptile owners were able to attend the meeting, after receiving word of the proposal only yesterday. Though some had to leave early, most stayed and were able to work with the Mayor and Council to modify the proposal and table the reptile restrictions.
Loren Leigh of LLL Reptile was one of those business and reptile owners that was able to drop everything and help rally reptile owners to the council chambers. I was able to speak with Loren briefly today about what was on the table and whet they got accomplished.
To listen to the interview click here.
Tuesday, February 28 2012
 Despite the input of thousands of reptile owners and businesses, today the Florida Independent is reporting that the U.S. House Judiciary Committee passed H.R. 511, a bill that would add nine species of constrictor snakes to the the list of injurious species under the Lacey Act, clearing the way for a vote by the full House of Representatives later in the year.
Quick to release a statement, the HSUS is already pushing to take the next step.
“The House Judiciary Committee recognized that the trade in large, constricting snakes is reckless and irresponsible, putting people, ecosystems and the animals that live in them, and the snakes themselves at risk,” said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States. “We hope that the bill is scheduled for a vote on the House floor soon, and that the Senate takes up the matter expeditiously.”
The read the full text of the article at the Florida Independent click here
The next step for H.R. 511 is the full House of Representatives, where it will have to be voted on and pass, and from there to the U.S. Senate, and then to the President, a process that can take days, or months depending on the impetus of the bill. If you are a pet owner concerned or impacted by the implications of this proposed legislation, please make sure to let your House of Representatives member know how it impacts you and your family.
 The proposed "Illinois Dangerous Animals Act of 2012, Senate Bill SB3264", a bill which would have eliminated and restricted the ownership of many pet reptiles in Illinois, was the agenda of a Senate hearing today at the state capital in Springfield. A group of concerned Illinois pet and business owners, led by the always fearless and outspoken Brian Potter, went to Springfield today to speak their minds on the proposal.
I had a chance to speak with Brian for a few minutes right after the hearing. He was kind enough to give us an update on the current situation in Illinois.
Click here to hear the interview with Brian Potter.
Monday, February 27 2012
 The Chula Vista, California City Council will discuss an overhaul of the city’s current animal laws tomorrow at its Tuesday, February 28th meeting. Among the amendments presented in this wide-ranging, proposed ordinance is a ban on certain “wild animals” and other provisions that impact reptile owners and businesses.
This proposal bans the sale, possession for sale, importation or breeding of a wild animal, and declares that “no person may possess or maintain the following:”
- venomous reptiles;
- birds attaining an adult weight of over 15 pounds;
- rodents attaining an adult weight of over 10 pounds;
- any crocodilian (Order Crocodilia);
- all boa and python species (Family Boidae) attaining an adult weight of over 15 pounds or an adult overall length of over 3 ½ feet;
- all monitor lizard species.
For a complete list of the animals impacted by the ordinance refer to the full text of the proposal located here. The proposal states that this ordinance will take effect, and be in full force, on the 13th day after its adoption. The proposal is set to be discussed at the February 28, 2012 City Council meeting (Council Chambers, City Hall – 276 Fourth Avenue, 4:00 p.m.). All pet owners, pet business operators and anyone else affected by this proposal should attend the meeting and contact the council.
Thanks again to PIJAC for bringing this to our attention.
 It was the other shoe dropping for our community. Four species of pythons have been added to the Lacey Act of the United States. On Tuesday, February 28, the Judiciary Committee will see another bill looking to include the remaining original species of snakes. From the House of Representatives webpage:
A BILL
To amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit the importatiion of various injurious species of constrictor snakes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. IMPORTATION OR SHIPMENT OF INJURIOUS SPECIES.
Section 42(a)(1) of title 18, United States Code, is amended in the first sentence by inserting after ‘‘polymorpha;’’ the following: ‘‘of the Indian python of the species Python molurus, including the Burmese python of the species Python molurus bivittatus; of the reticulated python of the species Broghammerus reticulatus or Python reticulatus; of the Northern African python of the species Python sebae; of the Southern African python of the species Python natalensis; of the boa constrictor of the species Boa constrictor; of the yellow anaconda of the species Eunectes notaeus; of the DeSchauensee’s anaconda of the species Eunectes deschauenseei; of the green anaconda of the species Eunectes murinus; of the Beni anaconda of the species Eunectes beniensis;’’
This would be a good time to reach out to your representatives. Remember: always be polite. Explain that the recent Lacey Act Rule including the Burmese, the Yellow Anaconda and the Northern and Southern Rock Pythons has not taken effect nor has it proven to be a failed addition. Also point out that this bill will criminalize many responsible owners on such basic tasks as crossing the state lines for vet care or in the event the family moves. You can also touch on the job loss and the impact this will have on the economy. Make it personal, and do not refer to your animals as a "collection" but as pets.
Not sure who your representative is? Click here to find out. After the bump there is a list of those targeted as key members of the judiciary committee, however to reach out to the full list of committee members, click here.
Lamar Smith (R-TX)- 202-225-4236
Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI)- 202-225-5101
Howard Coble (R-NC)- 202-225-3065
Darrell Issa (R-CA)- 202-225-3906
Louie Gohmert (R-TX)- 202-225-3035
Jason Chaffetz (R-UT)- 202-225-7751
Trey Gowdy (R-SC)- 202-225-6030
Ted Poe (R-TX)- 202-225-6565
Bob Goodlatte (R-VA)- 202-225-5431
Saturday, February 25 2012
 Blue Tongue Skins in Australia are develping resistance to the poisonous Cane Toad. From NewScientist.com:
Some blue-tongue lizards in eastern Australia can dine on the cane toads and live, though. Oddly enough, they might owe their immunity to another invasive species.
An ornamental plant native to Madagascar called mother-of-millions (Bryophyllum delagoense) is common in eastern Australia, and has also become part of the lizards' diet. The plants' flowers contain a poison similar to bufadienolide. Rick Shine at the University of Sydney, Australia, suspected that lizards which have already gained immunity to this toxin might be in a better position to withstand the toad toxin too.
His team caught 75 lizards that lived in areas containing either the toad and the ornamental plant, just one of the two, or neither of the toxic invaders. Shine injected toad poison into the lizards, administering a dose high enough to provoke a reaction, but not enough to kill the animal. His team then timed how fast the lizards could swim 50 centimetres.
Blue-tongue lizards from areas containing mother-of-millions were affected to a lesser degree than any others. This was true even for lizards that lived in regions of eastern Australia that contain no cane toads.
To read the full article, click here.
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