Reptile pet trade

[krrc]

As Chondro suggested I have posted The mission statement for my site is below. I know the whole world hates MK (Melissa Kaplan) but the articles on the reptile pet trade on her site are primarily what got me involved with this several months ago anyone who has any input on what we can do would be great. I don’t think it matters much if we live in Canada or the US because whatever we do in one place we can at least make an example of in another.

The mission statement is as follows:

The KRRC is committed to educating reptile owners and store staff on the proper care of pet reptiles. By informing the public of the joys and responsibilities of reptile keeping the reptile community can limit the amount of restrictions placed on the hobby...

Groups such as the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) are much more concerned with “conventional” pets and don’t believe the public can take care of or should own reptiles. They address erroneous accusations of the risks of salmonella and make many references to their belief that few if any people have the funds or knowledge to care for these animals correctly. By breeding many of the common reptile species kept today, the hobby has demonstrated its knowledge of husbandry requirements and has significantly reduced strain on wild populations.
Still with all the steps forward in the last number of years we are far from what the reptile community could become. Many pet stores have slightly a clue on how to take care of many of the animals. Newcomers to the overwhelming world of reptiles are given wrong information and impulsively buy an animal that they will not be able to take care of. With many pet store selling sick, mistreated animals and people not fully understanding husbandry requirements the majority of reptiles bought die within the first year.
Education is an obvious inevitability in the advancement of keeping reptiles as pets. Showing young children and adults not to fear but respect reptiles is also an important undertaking.
None of this will be possible without a strong following in the community to change what we have for the better. To show organizations like the HSUS that we can do the “impossible” that we can take care of our chosen pet and do so responsibly. I and the members of the KRRC thank every one of the reptile enthusiasts that join the fight for correct treatment of pet reptiles.

Note: KRRC- Keepers for Responsible Reptile Care

[BWSmith]

ok, I was going to give some revising suggestions, but i am too tired. The general idea is good, just some modifications in wording. This weekend is packed for me with educational programs and travel. Please email the text and I will send suggestions early next week for modifications. Again good work and I commend you for wanting to get involved. You can email me directly at info@reptileeducation.com

[ReptiZone]

well that seems like a good plan of action but we need to start small so what do you propose would be a good first step.
Education is the key but where do we start pet stores, shoping malls, schools.

You have verry good dreams but you need to site back and get your schooling done and go to college and university to be able to take a public stand I am working on educational presentation starting in september I want to tour most of the elamentary schools in my area then start working on the pet stores once I get that done i will see what can be done just remember that the kids are the future and some day a new president or prime minaster will be asked to change a reptile law and they will think of when they were young and the guy with the snakes and lizards came to there school and thaught them a few thing they may want to discuse it with the public B4 a law is passed just my thaughts

[paul_le_snake]

i really dont want to get arrogant here, but............ the same thing has already happened in the uk.
although ive been in canada for the last 2 years, before that i was heavily involved in several uk herp societies. basically we had to fight tooth and nail to even let the RSPCA (royal society for the prevention of cruelty to animals) let us feed LIVE crickets to lizards. then animal aid got hold of us reptile keepers and they decided to try to ban all reptile keeping completly. while i was still living in the uk, virtually every show was closed down at the last minute. the holders of the show had no idea, or any recourse to the actions. the councils were being advised by the RSPCA that reptiles are carriers of salmonella, can cause meningitis. what the RSPCA failed to mention, was that more ppl die every year from being kicked to death by a horse than being killed by a reptile caused death.
ive said it before and i'll say it again. i was complacent about this issue, but that was 10 years ago, if i had the hindsight i would have done everything i could have done to stop animal aid, the supposed reptile expert clifford warrick and that twat peter heathcote. these people and organisations are dangerous to all reptile keepers, breeders, dealers whatevers. animal aids' main maifesto is to stop all people from keeping ALL pets. this means cats, dogs, fish, hampsers etc. they started with reptiles because they are hugely misunderstood by the general public. so they think that if they can gain supprort by spouting lies about the so called dangers from reptiles, they can slink into the public and before everyone else knows whats going on, they'll ban, or at least try to ban all pet keeping and breeding. even zoos aren't safe from their bitterness. these people have protested many zoological establishments, and they will not stop until they get their own blinkered way
cheers
paul

[ReptiZone]

well That was not arrogent you seem to get the point behind our motives to try an educate the public.

But the question still stands where do we start this is a big herp world who would be willing to stand in the front lines of a court room as we all know that in due time that is what will hapen to us.

You serious herpers know what we mean.

But to the general ppl here that have only one leo gecko and royal python. This is the big picture if there is a ban on all reptiles that includes your tynie leo not just the burmese pythons, hots and crocodilians. A ban on all reptiles means ALL REPTILES 6 inche to 25+feet no one gets to keep any thing so this is a lot more seriouse then some ppl think.

Ya you could go against the law if this cours of action dose take place. But once the ban is in place you just need to make one of your friends mad and he/she will rat you out to the wrong ppl and if ever there is a ban that will mean bigger laws, bigger fines to pay and a criminal record for doing somthing we love. That hurts no one.

For thows of you that don't know the Reptile industry is like the drug traid we all talk about Cites animals. Apendix I,II,III.
Did you know that there is a under ground reptile society (Ya it sounds far fetched) but it is true there are cop's hierd just to investigat reptiles imported illegaly.

It is a big deal I have seen it in action!

All you crocodilian lovers out there know what a cuben crocodiel is crocodilus Rompbifer well it hit the news last year that one was smuggled in to Canada and sent to the Cites office in New-Brunswick any way they neede a place to house this amazing animal all that to say it ended up at the zoo I was working at.

I learnd first hand just how bad this stuff can get.
Did you know that if the person is ever caught he is facing like 5-10 years in prison and a $5 000-$25 000 fine.

Now imagine a ban that would mean all reptiles would be CITES1 animals. Your leo could and up puting you in jail with a fine do we realy want our government to take such actions we should be the first ones in line to fight these ppl B4 things get out of hand and a ban is placed.

[LdyDrgn]

Chondro, maybe I am misunderstanding your point about CITES... just because an animal is banned does not mean it is immediately placed under Appendix 1 status. I keep and will be breeding Appendix 1 animals. This only means that they are severely endangered/nearing extinction and must not be imported/exported without proper paperwork. Appendix 2 are animals that are not necessarily now threatened with extinction but that may become so unless trade is closely controlled.....

Was I misunderstanding your statement :confused:

[ReptiZone]

ya a bit, it was a comparesent you can't get Cites 1 animals just like that I was saying that if there is a ban in all of Canada it is like all animals will be Cites 1 cause it will be Illegal to have a corn snake or leo gecko. the sam restrictions will apply. if they start to push they will never stop unles they have to fight and put money into it so lets syart geting the public ready to say no to that kind of proposel.

[paul_le_snake]

not all cites 1 animals are really endangered anymore, for instance the argentine boa (B.c. occidentalis) is very common in the wild, it was originally placed on the cites 1 list because of the heavy skin trade exploitation. also A. dumerelli is not scarce in the wilds of madagascar, but due to certain governmental red-tape it has been placed on cites 1, mainly because the government knows that more and more natural land will be turned into farmland and others.cheers
paul

for those interested u should have a look at this webpage.

http://www.f-b-h.co.uk/
it for the federation of british herpotolgists