Newsletter From USARK Received Today

[marvelfreak]

Got this from a friend on another site and thought you would all like to read it.




« on: November 18, 2011, 05:13:04 PM »

• Quote

Dangerous Animal Legislation; Ohio, SC, VA, PA, MO, OK & WI.
Occupational Hazard and Public Safety

There are two types of risk associated with livestock management - 1) Occupational risk and 2) public safety. These are completely separate issues. In the case of the Reptile Industry, occupational risk is the risk posed to those individuals who work with and around reptiles (not the innocent public). Public safety risk is that posed to the general public outside of the reptile keeper’s facility.

Unusually large specimens of the five largest snake species, venomous snakes and crocodilians do present a moderate occupational risk to their keepers. However, by any objective measure, the risk is no greater than that associated with other traditional livestock or pets. In recent years the Animal Rights (AR) Industry has waged an aggressive and sensational campaign to paint this occupational risk as an eminent threat to public safety. This is a false claim, confusing occupational hazard and public safety.

The AR Industry has lobbied in a number of States to pass legislation that would designate many reptiles as "Dangerous", seeking to ban private ownership. The reality is that there are many other types of livestock and pets that have been demonstrated, statistically and historically, to be much more dangerous to both keepers and to the public than any reptiles. However, no proposal has been made to label other animals, including dogs, horses, and other livestock, with the designation of "Dangerous", even though annually they each injure and kill far more people than do any reptile species.

This is an example of the prejudice felt by segments of the public against reptiles. Some people are frightened of reptiles. There is no doubt that reptiles, particularly snakes, carry the baggage of cultural bias, irrational fear and misunderstanding. This is in spite of the fact that only about one person a year is killed in this country by a captive reptile as an occupational hazard, compared to, say, the average 35 people a year that are killed by dogs. No members of the general public have been killed by reptiles, but there have been numerous cases involving dogs.

USARK rejects the designation of "Dangerous" to describe to any reptile. We understand that there are occupational risks involved in the captive husbandry of the largest examples of five large snake species, and venomous reptiles. It is the position of USARK that only experienced and serious keepers should work with these animals. However, it is important to consider that there is no evidence to suggest that these risks are any greater than those associated with working with other traditional types of livestock or pets - indeed, the measurable risk is significantly less. USARK has developed model legislation that can be enacted at the state level to ensure that keepers working with certain reptiles adhere to strict caging standards, safety protocols, escape prevention plans, registration and micro-chipping.

Studies done by the US Fish & Wildlife Service and US Geological Survey, suggest the rare fatality due to a captive reptile are occupational risk; and a NOT public safety risk. There is a moderate occupation risk taken when working with certain reptiles. Skill and care is required to handle them safely. It is an extremely rare event for a fatality to result. It is almost always the keeper or his employees or, more rarely, a third party within the keepers facility. However, there has never been any measurable risk to the general public. Best Management Practices further mitigate public risk by implementing standards and putting additional safeguards in place.


USARK OPPOSES- Legislation designating any reptiles as Dangerous; or the banning of private ownership and trade in any reptiles based on unsubstantiated and false claims of public safety risk.

[stephanbakir]

Looks great, but they should fix one part of it.


Studies done by the US Fish & Wildlife Service and US Geological Survey, suggest the rare fatality due to a captive reptile are occupational risk; and a NOT public safety risk.

[shaunyboy]

the animal rights peoples over here are against reptile keeping of any kind

they are a bunch of devious self serving nasty a**holes

one of their many agendas is to ban all private reptile keeping

i cannot stand the double standards of these people

cheers shaun

[stephanbakir]

I love how you ended that rant with a "Cheers Shaun" ROFL I almost fell down laughing lol.

[shaunyboy]

Originally Posted by stephanbakir

I love how you ended that rant with a "Cheers Shaun" ROFL I almost fell down laughing lol.

glad i got you laughing stephan

as i've said before i'd miss our banter,if anything ate you on one of your many adventures mate

cheers shaun

[jarich]

Originally Posted by shaunyboy

glad i got you laughing stephan

as i've said before i'd miss our banter,if anything ate you on one of your many adventures mate

cheers shaun

Ha! He definitely breeds the right ones for that

[stephanbakir]

Other then my satanic male who refuses to grow, all my animals are angels

[Aaron_S]

I like that letter and agree with some of what they're doing.

I know stephen you'll hate me for this but I do believe venomous snakes and the largest species should be banned from private keeping. So few good keepers out there and so many snakes that are just poised to hurt someone, especially in the case of venomous snakes.

The reason I lump large boids in with venomous here is because I don't see a reason why they need to be kept privately. Most people don't house them properly and the ones who don't release them. Even if they are good keepers and eventually good breeders where do the babies end up? Sure you can charge a larger dollar value for each snake and that will certainly help but these pythons average easily 20 - 30 babies per female. That's a whole lot of snakes to find GOOD homes for, year in and year out. Reality is that isn't possible.

No offense to you Stephen and none of this was directed at you personally.

[stephanbakir]

Originally Posted by Aaron_S

I like that letter and agree with some of what they're doing.

I know stephen you'll hate me for this but I do believe venomous snakes and the largest species should be banned from private keeping. So few good keepers out there and so many snakes that are just poised to hurt someone, especially in the case of venomous snakes.

The reason I lump large boids in with venomous here is because I don't see a reason why they need to be kept privately. Most people don't house them properly and the ones who don't release them. Even if they are good keepers and eventually good breeders where do the babies end up? Sure you can charge a larger dollar value for each snake and that will certainly help but these pythons average easily 20 - 30 babies per female. That's a whole lot of snakes to find GOOD homes for, year in and year out. Reality is that isn't possible.

No offense to you Stephen and none of this was directed at you personally.

Honestly I agree with everything you said, although I wouldn't ban them. What I would do is restrict them, those who really want them have to get a permit that requires certain criteria be met. It sucks, because they are the species I fell in love with. Retics are by far my fav, and vipers and elapids come in a close second. While I agree that most people shouldn't own them, the "right" people should still be able to if they prove themselves somehow.

I'll never complain to a constructive comment, which states why they think the way they do.

[Gungirl]

I have to say that I agree with Aaron and Stephan in this one. Permits or a lic should be required to keep any large or venomous...

[stephanbakir]

Originally Posted by Aaron_S

Sure you can charge a larger dollar value for each snake and that will certainly help but these pythons average easily 20 - 30 babies per female. That's a whole lot of snakes to find GOOD homes for, year in and year out. Reality is that isn't possible.

With regards to that, I agree with you.
I once sold a woman a 7500$ retic, gave her a caresheet and explained everything she would need to know. a few months later I was returned the animal in atrocious condition, it had never eaten in her care.
I asked her if she could think of a reason why, and she couldn't. I attempted to feed the animal a rat and it ripped it off the tongs instantly. I called her back and asked what she was trying to feed it, because on the caresheet it stated that it should be fed apropriately sized rats then transitioned onto rabbits or fed multiple rats. She responded with (quite proudly) "All of my pets are vegetarians"...
Its hard to know just who will make a good owner, but I'll tell you this, if I ever have a doubt I always refuse the sale.

[jarich]

Wow, that's crazy! She thought she would get her snake to be a vegetarian?! Yikes. I hope you didn't give her any refund.

I agree with you as well Aaron. I think many animals should require a permit. Even that doesn't make much difference though. They have that law here and there are still so many burms, retics etc on sale on CL everyday. Sad to think of the poor care so many of them will get. Wish the law got enforced more.

[stephanbakir]

I payed something like 500$ for the animal, got it back up to health and resold it to someone I knew was a quality keeper, its doing great now.

[Aaron_S]

I don't really believe in those systems. It's very difficult to properly implement and regulate. It's very easy to keep snakes "underground" for lack of a better term.

My biggest issue with this all, and it may stem from being a parent, is that you may choose to put yourself in this dangerous position but no one else around you did. Your kids didn't, your neighbours didn't. It's more so an issue with venomous snakes as if EVER one gets out and kills someone it means that our hobby is more valuable than a human life? We put our enjoyment ahead of someone's innocent life? All for what? A 'cool" snake, the "rush" of dealing with death on a regular basis?

That little girl who died by a burm sure didn't choose to be in that situation.

[stephanbakir]

Originally Posted by Aaron_S

I don't really believe in those systems. It's very difficult to properly implement and regulate. It's very easy to keep snakes "underground" for lack of a better term.

My biggest issue with this all, and it may stem from being a parent, is that you may choose to put yourself in this dangerous position but no one else around you did. Your kids didn't, your neighbours didn't. It's more so an issue with venomous snakes as if EVER one gets out and kills someone it means that our hobby is more valuable than a human life? We put our enjoyment ahead of someone's innocent life? All for what? A 'cool" snake, the "rush" of dealing with death on a regular basis?

That little girl who died by a burm sure didn't choose to be in that situation.

I agree, they didn't put themselves there so the potential risk is a pain, but proper husbandry will help keep the number of potential victims down.
The little girl that died is a sad story, but her parents were idiots for 1, keeping her in the same room and 2, keeping it in a glass terrarium with a piece of wood as a lid...

I get no "rush" from owning my retics, I love them, and how they act. Don't take this as an attack, because I do like BPs. If you stick a ball python in the middle of a room and walk around it 10+ feet away what is it going to do, sit there and ignore you. Same situation with a retic, its going to sit there and watch you without moving its head, its eyes will follow you wherever you go including behind it.

They are spectacular animals and if appreciated for the right reasons, and treated right will make awesome additions to THE RIGHT PERSON's collection.