DANGER: Python Ban Goes to Committee

HR2811 (House version of S373) Sponsored by Congressman Kendrick Meek (D-FL), will go to Mark-up (amendment) in a subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday the 28th, and then to the full committee on Wednesday the 29th. This bill has been called the Python BAN. If passed as written, it will BAN the IMPORT, EXPORT and INTERSTATE TRANSPORT of the entire genus python. Once it passes Mark-up it will go to a vote on the floor of the full House of Representatives. Anyone who doesn't believe that this is an immediate threat to the entire Reptile Community has their head in the sand. If the Reptile Nation does not wake up and take massive and decisive action right now we could lose ALL pythons.

USARK has worked hard and spent a lot of money to make sure the Reptile Nation has the best information available regarding the fate of our community. We make our positions clear and operate with complete transparency. We have no conflicts of interest. Our only allegiance is to the Reptile Nation. We are asking you to TAKE ACTION NOW to save this industry. No one else can do this for us. We hold our fate in our own hands. That is why we created USARK, to take control of our own destiny.

We have the best lobbyists, contacts and strategy to address the situation. This is not the time to panic or get angry. It is time for calm deliberate action. We need to engage in a massive phone and fax campaign on Monday the 27th. Get everyone you know to call. Spread the word to every forum and social networking site you frequent.

Phone & Fax Campaign: Monday July 27 (call & fax ALL Congressman at ALL numbers)

Congressman Kendrick Meek (D-FL),

Washington DC: phone 202-225-4506; fax 202-226-0777

Miami: phone 305-690-5905; fax 305-690-5951

Congressman Tom Rooney (R-FL)

Washington DC: phone 202-225-5792; fax 202-225-3132

Punta Gorda: phone 941-575-9101; fax 941-575-9103

Congressman Robert Wexler (D-FL)

Washington DC: phone 202-225-3001; fax 202-225-5974

Boca Raton: phone 561-988-6302; fax 561-988-6423

Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL)

Washington DC: phone 202-225-7931; fax 202-226-2052

Pembroke Pines: phone 954-437-3936; fax 954-437-4776

SCRIPT: My name is...... I want to register a NO on HR2811. If passed as written this bill will destroy thousands of Florida voters, their families and small businesses. There is not a shred of scientific evidence to support banning all of the different species in the genus python. Please amend the bill to address only the IMPORT of the Burmese Python. Thank you for your consideration.

Click here to donate $10 with dollar for dollar matching from Zoo Med

[link]



THIS MUST BE BIG!!! SPREAD THE WORD FOR MONDAY July 27th 2009!!!!!!

Ok people, this is urgent!

Check out this video
[link]

This will seriously change the pet world if passed! All I am asking is for your time to let your voice be heard! The video tells you what to do and how this can very well impact you.

No HR 669
[link]

USARK
[link]

Please do something, or we will loose our rights to own any animal not native to the USA as pets. And yes, this will not just be with snakes, but includes animals such as ferrets, g-pigs, hamsters, gerbils, tropical fish, several birds ( such as parakeets)and many more. Take this seriously please!

Are you aware that there is a proposed bill to ban the importation into the US, across state lines, the breeding or and the sale of specific exotic animals that is NOT based on scientific research but rather on the ideology of powerful, special interest groups? There is absolutely no evidence to suggest that banning the import, sale and trade of any of these animals will have any positive effect on the economy, environment, or human or animal species health.


WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP
We need to let the state representatives know that we appose this bill! We need to let our voices be heard and make a stand for our rights to own the animals we see as part of the family.

Here is an organization that is specifically set up to help the reptile owners keep their rights to own reptiles.

United States Association of Reptile Keeping
[link]
This organization provides mission statements that I completely agree with. You will also be able to view all the proposed bills ( HR669 AND S373)

Even if you do not own an exotic snake, you can let your voice be heard! Don't think that just because you own a reptile that is not on the list to be banned you are scot free- there is always the chance that even colubrids ( corns, ratsnakes, kingsnakes) could be eventually added, as well as the bearded dragons and the lizards of sorts. This bill kind of like a blank check- pass the bill now, fill in the details later... Is this the kind of government you wish to support?? The HSUS is looking for a foothold, and if they get this foothold, what will they consider exotic? This can hurt us even more down the road then you may realize.

Find your state representative and start writing your letters. Send them to the representatives that are supporting this bill!
For 1. Del. Bordallo
[link]

2. Rep. Napolitano
[link]

3. Rep. Kind
[link]

4. Rep. Grijalva
[link]

Rep. Klein
[link]

Rep. Hastings
[link]

Rep. Abercrombie
[link]

Rep. Miller
[link]

Well, I got a call from the bet today about my one snake's culture result- positive for growth Now, for you non snake people, I brought her in as a possible respiratory infection- vet did a culture, and there was bacteria or something found in it- so being positive was not a good thing. But, it was a very VERY low count, so they want to determine if its a pathogen or insidental...i have no clue what they mean by incidental...

But what gets me really upset was that this girl made it through q-tine with no ill signs whatsoever. I had her paired up with my spider, so now I have to be concerned about my spider's health.

She has not been open mouth breathing, no drooling or smears... I just hear a little noise when I seperated the male from her cage and tidied up her cage- it wasn't constant.

I have kept her cage clean- i clean it after she soils it- may not be right that second, but I check cages after work.

Her temps were the same- I work with 90 warm, 80 cool, in the winter tho it goes to like, 78 in the snak eroom on occasion ( since we put plastic around the window, its been staying at 82ish.

What the heck did I do wrong?

But like I said, the vet and the other exotic expert she was talking with aren't majorly concerned, but I still worry myself sick. So, instead of going to the new years party and drinking, I decide it would be best to get that girl back in q-tine and thoroughly clean the cages that were in that room. I have 5 holding tubs, so I can do 5 tubs at a time. I notice half way through bleach cleaning that the water pressure was really low. My b/f talks to the maintenance man, the other 2 buildings lost power- and that is where the water pump is. And to make matters worse- there is chance we will loose water! So, I try finishing up as quick as I can.

Well, we lost water. So I cannot even feel better about making sure all the other snake cages are freshly sterilized, and i am sitting here bored out of my mind b/c I cannot even sterilize my snake room.

I think power is back on, but I keep checking the faucets, and nothing comes out.

:sigh: At least I finsihed one batch and didnty have 5 snakes w/o a cage to worry about.

hope you all have a better new years then me!

LOL, i prolly dont need to say this, but I have been a way for a LOOONG time...LOL

Been kinda busy- got a very passionate hobby of snak ekeeping, and gonna be breeding soem for the first time thi sseason. Sadly, I havent drawn in a long time, but I am snapping some photo's at least.

Anyways, that is really all for now. I am trying to get more active on DA again.