Hello all my ferret friends,
Please be aware that there is a Congressional Hearing happening on
April 23, 2009 which will completely affect our ferrets. This hearing
is on the Nonnative Wildlife Invasion Prevention Act, HR 669, a bill
which wishes to revamp how species are regulated under the Lacey Act.
Species not appearing on the "Approved List" could not be imported into
the United States; therefore, all unapproved nonnative species could
not be moved interstate. In addition, trade in all such unlisted
species would come to a halt -- possession would be limited and all
breeding would cease. Unless those species are included on the approved
list import, export, transport, and breeding would be prohibited.
Exceptions are limited and would not be available to pet owners across
the nation.
A HEARING has been scheduled for April 23 and the pet industry needs to
be heard load and clear prior to the hearing! The anti-trade elements
are hard at work to stop activities involving non-native species.
You can contact members of the subcommittee by emailing or faxing your
opposition to HR 669 to their offices in Washington DC urging them to
amend the bill. You can also contact district offices to voice your
opposition or request a meeting with your Representative. It is also
important to organize like-minded people in your district so several
of you can visit with your representative at the same time.
In short: the act will introduce a system of two lists: a white list
of approved species and a black list of species prohibited for imports.
The lists are valid for all territories of the USA! So species
potentially behaving invasive in e.g. Florida, will be on the black
list for the entire USA. Each species has to be screened for the risk
of becoming invasive, imports are suspended until "proven innocent".
As hardly any species has been screened yet, almost all species are
"guilty" for the moment and imports suspended until the screening
took place demonstrating the "innocence". Criteria are such that most
species face a serious risk of not passing the criteria.
The email of Marshall Myers of PIJAC-USA:
"ON April 23rd 2009 The Natural Resources Committee of the U.S.
Congress will hold a hearing on H.R. 669, a resolution that will in
effect ban importation, interstate transport and the private ownership
of most birds, mammals, reptiles, and fish as pets. Should HR669 be
adopted as written
Only the following nonnative animals would be allowed:
any cat (Felis catus)
cattle or oxen (Bos taurus)
chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus)
dog (Canis lupus familiaris)
donkey or ass (Equus asinus)
domesticated members of the family Anatidae (geese)
duck (domesticated Anas spp.)
goat (Capra aegagrus hircus)
goldfish (Carassius auratus auratus)
horse (Equus caballus)
llama (Lama glama)
mule or hinny (Equus caballus x E. asinus)
pig or hog (Sus scrofa domestica)
domesticated varieties of rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus)
sheep (Ovis aries)
Should this resolution be adopted into law as written it will have a
devastating impact on every pet owner and business in the United
States.
Action is needed TODAY to protect your rights to keep your pets!
To find Out what you can do to protect your pets please click on the
link below.
Please note that the linked PIJAC PET ALERT requires that you have
Adobe Acrobat installed. More info will follow as it becomes
available... ( http://banner.pethobbyist.com/spclick.php?id=438 )"
(the list of congresspeople on the committee is in the Adobe file)
Spread the word to friends, family, and like-minded individuals and
urge them to respond to this unworkable approach which is an issue for
all of us. Call, email, and fax your local newspapers or tv stations.
We need to get the word out.
More info:
http://www.pijac.org/files/public/US_HR_669.pdf
A group has also been formed on Facebook at the following -->
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=86144566696
Thanks,
Michele Paulhus
--
"People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the
sun is out, but when the darkness sets in their true beauty is revealed
only if there is light from within." ~Elisabeth Kubler-Ross~
[Posted in FML 6294]
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