bylaws

[Iguanalady]

PLEASE HELP THE RESIDENTS OF CITY OF SURREY

On September 16th, City Council members will be holding a
Public Hearing regarding a complete ban of sale of exotic animals (reptiles).

This Bylaw should be voted down because it discriminates
against responsible pet owners and legitimate domestic
breeding and pet business residing in Surrey.

If passed, the next step could be the complete ban on ownership as well.
Some members of Council have expressed this opinion already.

We ask Council to consult more with pet owners and the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council
whose membership includes other Cities, Humane Societies,
individuals, veterinarians, pet owners, pet stores and their suppliers.

Many Lower Mainland Councils have passed responsible exotic animal bylaws which make sense.
We are in favor of a responsible exotic animal bylaw. Surrey Council should do the same.

Attend the public hearing on September 16th, Surrey City Council Chambers
at 6:30 pm - Surrey Council - Voice your opposition to the proposed bylaw.

If you cannot attend, write the Mayor and Council - let them
know you oppose the proposed bylaw - amend it!

IMPORTANT CONTACT INFORMATION
CITY OF SURREY

email contact for the city clerk: ckiverago@city.surrey.bc.ca

Mailing Address:
14245 - 56th Avenue
Surrey, British Columbia
V3X 3A2

Mayor.................Doug McCallum.......................591-4196
Councillor............Judith E. Higginbotham............591-4633
Councillor............J. Marvin Hunt.........................591-4635
Councillor............Barbara Steel..........................591-4623
Councillor............Gary D. Tymoschuk.................591-4626
Councillor............Robert Bose............................591-4624
Councillor............Penny Priddy...........................591-4622
Councillor............Judy A. Villeneuve....................591-4625
Councillor............Dianne L. Watts.......................591-4634

[Skink Keeper]

There are some bylaws i just don't understand. I don't think there is much i can do from Toronto, but good luck i hope everything works out for you.

[Iguanalady]

Please dont believe you have no power here. When we stopped a similar bylaw in Maple Ridge the only reason we stopped it was because people like you wrote letters. The councillors were overwhelmed by the volume of letters they got and one even commented in amazement that she got letters from across Canada.

Anytime you see a bylaw like this whether it is happening in your home town or half way around the world please write a letter of protest. It takes nothing but a little time on your part. If they disregard it because you are not a local then you dont lose much but if they take it to heart then you have made a huge impact and done yourself and your fellow herpers a huge service!

I write a couple of letters every month at least either to newspapers or city councils whether its here in my province or down in the states. If everyone did that we would make more of an impression.

[Pia]

Thanks for the update Iquanalady, I hope to be there. Is the meeting at the same address as the mailing address?

[Frankie]

I will send an e-mail over this weekend in hopes of helping. It looks like most of the councilers are women maybe they are afraid of snakes, no offense to women maybe a different angle to look at.

[Skink Keeper]

Well, I will write an e-mail to them and i will try my best to help out.

[tHeGiNo]

I will definitely send an e-mail, and will mail a letter. Anything to stop this ridicule...

[tHeGiNo]

One thing I need to know is the exact proposal and exact reasons. This would greatly help with rebuttles. I am e-mailing the whole council by the way, I am sure it would help it everyone did the same.

For anyone who is not in B.C., like myself, we must realize that if we do not help stop this now, it will make it easier for other cities to follow Surreys actions. It affects us all guys, therefore we must all fight for the cause.

[tHeGiNo]

I would also recommend e-mailing all of the councillors. You can do so at the following page: http://www.city.surrey.bc.ca/_Utilit...ct_Council.htm

[Iguanalady]

Sorry I am not sure about the exact address of the meeting but if you phone the city clerks office you can find out.

The bylaw is just what was stated above....a complete ban on the sale of all reptiles. You will not be able to buy, sell, trade or even adopt reptiles within the city limits and it doesnt matter if its a 10 foot burm or a harmless little gecko. All reptiles are included.

I have emailed the city clerk several times as well as the council members and the city clerk always informs me she will pass along the email to the councillors.

[tHeGiNo]

What I meant was the actual reason behind, or grounds for, this ridiculous proposal. Why is it a proposal in other words.

[Wildkingdom]

I will be sure to bring this up at the TARAS meeting on Monday night...something needs to be done about this right away. I will be sure to get a hold of Pat Wise right away and let him know what is going on as he is in charge of these kind of things for Alberta.

Tammy

[Iguanalady]

Surrey is the home of Christine Schramm and the Rainforest Reptile Refuge. She is behind every bylaw here in BC and I hear she even flew to Ontario to push bylaws there. I am only surprised that this hasn't happened sooner. I have a feeling most if not all of the councillors are in bed with her on this. She is the darling of Surrey---she giveth so much of herself to the reptiles....taking them in.....never adopting because they suffer in captivity.....getting so overcrowded.....ignoring proper quarantine....keeping abotu 50 iguanas in one small room sized cage....letting wild rodents eat out of the reptiles bowls.....letting her cat fall in the snapping turtle tank......letting her cat get pregnant (where do all the kittens go?)....and on and on. Of course she is the best thing that ever happened to reptiles and what she says the council should do is golden!

Its disgusting and its a bloody never ending battle with her. She looks like she is getting old though so I am hoping she will just die and leave us in peace.

[jwsporty]

Iguanalady,


I hope this gets sorted out but I did my .02 worth and sent a letter to the mayor. Best of luck

Jim