Chicago Herp Ban.. Please help.

Ed_r · 07-29-03, 07:07 PM

Here is a link to the CHS Webpage dealing with the upcoming Herp Ban proposed for Chicago. Even if you do not live IN Chicago your input can carry some wieght. Everyone's help is needed. If Chicago falls, Your town or city very easily could be next. Chicago will be used as proof that herps are dispised and should be banned.CHS Herp Ban

Ed_r · 07-30-03, 07:24 AM

shameless bump

BWSmith · 07-30-03, 07:54 AM

Perhaps we should write a few sample letters and emails that people can easily distribute.

Dark_Angel_x322 · 07-30-03, 09:12 AM

Let me know what to do! I sent them all emails but it seemed to be ignored...

Dark_Angel_x322 · 07-30-03, 10:23 AM

I was just thinking... If this thing does get passed how likely do you think it would be for us to get it switched back? What if we get all the people hurt by it together and sue the city or the aldermen privately for emotional distress and/or uncontitutionality?(is that a word?) There has to be something in the contitution that we can use against this... I am telling as many people as possible about this. Do you think if we wrote some big corps. like petco or petsmart and tell them how they would be losing business if this gets passed, that they would help us? Not that i love pets stores or anything its just an idea to not get this passed. Now is the time I wish I had a lawyer friend...

BurmBaroness · 07-30-03, 10:41 AM

My concerns are numerous. First of all, if it gets passed in one state, it won't be long before it is enacted in most if not all states. Second, what will happen to the people who keep reptiles as pets? Will they be grandfathered in? Will they have their animals taken from them? Will they have to move just to be allowed to keep their animals? And if so, how many can conceivable afford to move, as in finding a similar job in another state, not to mention kids, etc? And third, what about all the animals? Put to sleep? Can't be that many zoos, educational facilitues, etc in Chicago. This is very disturbing to me. Did this all start with the monkeypox that was introduced by the prairie dogs? Whether it was or not, it seems to me that it is not the fault of the prairie dogs, it's the fault of the importers. THAT'S where the laws need to be made or changed. Require veterinary exams, blood tests, quarantine periods, etc on all imports. Don't punish the animals and the poeple who love them for something that neither one had any control over. I'm telling you, if they introduce that in NC, I would have to move before I could lose my animals. Of course, that could lead to a move every couple of years, if this goes all across the US. Sickening, makes me feel ill to think that this might actually get passed into law.

Ed_r · 07-30-03, 04:29 PM

Unfortunately I can't see any contitutional right to keep herps. Is IS a privledge. It's just morally wrong to ban them.

Yes BB this is in direct relation to the monkey pox issue. Even says in the proposal that 12 people have contracted the desease. 12!!!!! the whole thing has hit the fan over 12 people. yes it's unfortunate they have it, but lets face it it's still 12 people out of 15 million in the Chicagoland are and Wisconsin. This is insanity. BB your concerns really are just the tip of the iceberg. Not to mention the pet trade end in the area. people losing jobs .

Christina · 07-30-03, 06:44 PM

Email has been sent now let us hope for the best.
Christina

Rich · 07-30-03, 07:02 PM

Hello,
These laws may end up being passed, but there is no way to enforce them. they aren't going to go door to door or anything like that. There may be a damper on feeder mice etc. but that can be overcome by self production.
The prarie dogs were just a reason for them to start throwing this all around. the fact is, if they ban all reptiles, there is a lawsuit regarding discrimination. Dog attacks happen daily and some are fatal. If they ban one pet, they will have to ban them all!
I would seriously file a discrimination suit if any such laws ever get passed in Massachusetts.

Ed_r · 07-31-03, 08:03 AM

Rich, while I do understand they will not nor could not have a task force to effectivly enforce this. But one call from a crappy neighbor and they can come and confiscate you pets, They don't care if it is mass removal or one by one. For them they would probably prefer the one by one, so they can make an example out of you and talk you down like your some freak.

I can picture it now. "Police were called to Ed_r's house and confiscated 22 snakes and reptiles. Officers were severly bitten but some smaller snake, not known if they are PIOSONUS" then commentary on what a freak he must be for keeping such animals.

Well we had our meeting last night, and of course this was first and foremost on importance. The Alderman are all being bombed with snail mail and email. There have been reports of emails being bumped back. For those that are not you may be catching it when they are cleaning out the email. They are getting concerned about now sticking their foot in their mouth starting this. From what we are told this issue will go to commitee on August 24th. CHS will have numerous representatives present, possibly me too. This effort is very well thought out and very well organized. The president of CHS Lori King has been in direct contact with Alderman Burke's office pretty much daily. The Alderman are getting way more than they bargained for with this.

Support from outside of Chicago does carry an awful lot of wieght. Keep the letters and emails coming! From what I was told many if the letters and emails may not be read entirely, this is no reason for unprofessional letters and emails. Keep all letters and emails professional, and factual. We all don't want to come across and 3rd grade educated tattoo'd freaks. If the do write a snail mail letter, put on the outside of the envelope a subject of the animal ban, in case your letter doesn't actually get read, at least they know the subject of the leter is the ban, so it won't get as lost in the shuffle.

As it has been said, maybe not directly, but This WILL effect everyone eventually. If we win it will make it that much easier to defeat this when it comes to your city or state. At the rate things are going it WILL reach your state in due time. On the downside if this passes here, it will be that much easier to push it through in your city.

From what I understand, how this went though in NY is there was no dangerous animals act in place at all, so they felt something needed to be done. IL DOES have a dangerous animals act in place, so there is no reason to re-invent the wheel at city level.

Lori was telling us that the Aldermen are very surprised at the response from people out of the city, and out of state. This is really making them think about this. Also the Alderman agreed to have a face to face meeting with us(CHS) if this gets passed commity, before it would get voted into law. So there 'could' be a second chance to save out herps, if common sense doesn't prevail the first time around.

Keep the support coming!!! Thank You ALL for your help!!!

Ducky · 08-06-03, 10:34 AM

Hi everyone,

While I am not a herp owner, I do own exotics and rodents- While there are often tough moments between the rodent loving and the herp loving communities, I believe we MUST come together on this issue. All of our well loved pets are threatened here. As a resident of Chicago, I no longer feel confident that my animals are safe. We too are writing letters, making phone calls and sending many emails. Please let me know of any further information that may be of interest or any other ways we can work together to fight this.

-Danny