If you keep any non native pets to the US, please read

[slitherjef]

Hey mods, sorry if this is not allowed here and if gets deleted or locked, I understand, but I know there are a lot of people here and some may keep small animals, reptiles, birds and even fish. Even hampsters. There is a proposed bill out right now that would make breeding them and selling them illegal

here is some info
http://www.nohr669.com/

Again, I am sorry if this is not allowed here

[PhotosByEric]

Thanks for the heads up. Seeing as how my family owns a small feed and pet store this has been passed on and will be posted on the counter first thing tomorrow morning.

Eric

[xarqi]

-->Read the Bill (http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h111-669)<--
Only animals likely to cause economic or environmental harm, or a danger to health are included. What's unreasonable about that?

There are clear provisions excluding all domesticated animals, and all animals already present to an extent that there would be no point in including them. That would pretty much cover every species commonly kept as pets.

[rklepper]

What does this have to do with photography? Seems too politically charged to me to post here.

[Jon]

The purpose of this Act is to establish a risk assessment process to prevent the introduction into, and establishment in, the United States of nonnative wildlife species that will cause or are likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to other animal species’ health or human health. (http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=111_cong_bills&docid=f:h669ih.txt.pdf)(emphasis added; quote links directly to the language of the bill)

Can you say "Snakehead fish"? "English/House Sparrow", "Starling"? Go read the bill. Species need to be assessed once after which they're either included on a permitted list or a prohibited list based on their potential risk factors. Species found to not pose a threat to the environment will not be controlled. You're already supposed to have a permit to import foreign species.

[Mr. E]

-->Read the Bill (http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h111-669)<--
Only animals likely to cause economic or environmental harm, or a danger to health are included. What's unreasonable about that?



Some parts of the US have banned ferrets because of this reason...they were deemed harmful to the environment because they are 'burrowing animals', so this can be unreasonable. The only thing my ferrets ever burrowed in was the dirty laundry basket...probably more harmful to them...:)