Virginia tables one exotic animal bill til 2013, leaves another active

According to a PIJAC Pet Alert released this morning, one of the proposed bills to prohibit ownership of various species of animals in Virginia has been put on hold while the sponsor, Delegate Chris Peace (R), considers a number of changes. HB 1242, as originally written, would have prohibited the possession, sale, transfer, or breeding of certain listed species, subject to some statutory exceptions. Species subject to the proposed ban included:

• All species and hybrids of the genera Canis (wolves and related species), Cuon (dholes), Lycaon (African wild dogs), and Chrysocyon (maned wolves); excluding Canis lupus familiaris (domestic dogs) and Canis lupus familiaris hybrids
• All species and hybrids of the family Felidae (all felids); excluding Felis catus (domestic cats) and Felis catus hybrids
• All species and hybrids of bears
• All species of hyena and aardwolf
• All species of alligators, crocodiles, caimans, and gharials
• All species and hybrids of apes, galagos, lemurs, lorises, and monkeys, excluding humans
• All species of elephants
• All species and hybrids of the family Atractaspididae, such as mole vipers
• All species “that may be described as family Pythonidae”
• All species and hybrids of the genera Apodora (pythons), Eunectes (anacondas), Liasis (pythons), Morelia (pythons), and Python (pythons); excluding Morelia viridis (green tree pythons), Python anchietae (Angolan pythons), and Python regius (ball or royal pythons)
• All species and hybrids of the genera Dispholidus (boomslangs), Rhabdophis (keelbacks), and Thelotornis (twig snakes)
• All species of the family Elapidae, “to include all species that may be described as family Hydrophiidae,” such as cobras, mambas, coral snakes, and sea snakes
• All species of the family Viperidae, such as rattlesnakes, pit vipers, and puff adders.

No further action will occur on HB 1242 this legislative session, but the bill will remain in committee for further consideration during the second year of the session (2013). "PIJAC will continue working with the sponsor concerning objections to this legislation. Please note that Senate Bill 477, which also bans possession of certain species of animals, remains active at this time. The bill is currently in the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation & Natural Resources. PIJAC is working with interested parties on addressing concerns about this legislation as well. PIJAC will publish an updated PetAlert when there is any change in status on either of these bills. For additional information on these bills, or other legislation impacting the keeping, breeding or selling of pets, please feel free to contact PIJAC’s Michael Maddox at 202-452-1525, ext. 106, or via email at michael@pijac.org with questions or concerns. "