Virginia!! 9-28-12
PLEASE FORWARD – (forwarded from another Facebook member)
This is from David Means – he helped stop the bills in the VA
legislature last session that wanted to ban or severely limit
ownership of exotic animals. There is now a VA study group and they
are studying “Dangerous” rather than exotic animals –I think we all
know why. The group is full of all the usual VA animal rights people.
Even HSUS (Laura Donahue – VA HSUS State Director) has a seat at the
table. This initiative has become broader and more “dangerous” to
owners. Please help any way you can.
Alice Harrington
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The Dangerous Animal Initiative will hold a public meeting on
Wednesday, Oct. 24th from 4 pm – 6 pm at the VHDA Virginia Housing
Center, 4224 Cox Road, Glen Allen, VA 23060. It is very important that
anyone in Virginia that owns a reptile or exotic animal and wishes to
continue owning any reptile, or exotic animal be at that meeting. This
will be a chance for members of the public to voice their ideas,
comments, or concerns about the Dangerous Animal Initiative. The
workgroup is looking at what factors may make exotic/wild animals
"dangerous", and not just to humans, but to Virginia. They will be
looking at how these animals can harm humans directly (bite, crush,
constrict, other) but also indirectly (disease, parasites, other).
They will also be looking at how these animals can harm the ecosystem
and agriculture in Virginia directly (invasive, other) and indirectly
(disease, parasites, other). What will this mean to reptile keepers?
All reptiles will be considered, not just venomous and large
constrictors. What will this mean to other exotic/wild animal keepers?
Any non-domesticated animal may be considered (non-domesticated: any
animal other than domesticated dogs, cats, and agricultural animals).
This could mean some birds, aquarium fish, invertebrates, amphibians,
small and large mammals could be restricted or banned. I've already
heard though some of my contacts that the animal rights groups will
have a great number of people attending the public meeting, we need to
be sure that our numbers are far greater. We have a chance to stop
this before it gets to the next legislative session.
I'm hoping to find volunteers all over Virginia to help with
carpooling, so that people without rides or don't want to make the
drive alone will more easily be able to attend the public meeting. I'm
also looking for volunteers to be liaisons, speakers and leaders, as
well as volunteers to assist with origination, coming up with talking
points, and spreading the word. If you would like to help, need more
information, or want email updates, please email me at:
virginiaexoticban@gmail.com
Please forward this email to anyone that you feel would benefit from
it.
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