PLEASE READ--we could lose the right to have ferre

[wildbunch]

I got this announcement off the MaFF board it reads like this.

PLEASE READ--we could lose the right to have ferrets.

Hello all my ferret friends,

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CROSS POST THIS ANYWHERE AND EVERYWHERE!!!

Please be aware that there is a Congressional Hearing happening on April 23, 2009 which will completely affect our ferrets. This hearing is on the Nonnative Wildlife Invasion Prevention Act, HR 669, a bill which wishes to revamp how species are regulated under the Lacey Act. Species not appearing on the “Approved List” could not be imported into the United States; therefore, all unapproved nonnative species could not be moved interstate. In addition, trade in all such unlisted species would come to a halt – possession would be limited and all breeding would cease. Unless those species are included on the approved list import, export, transport, and breeding would be prohibited. Exceptions are limited and would not be available to pet owners across the nation.

A HEARING has been scheduled for April 23 and the pet industry needs to be heard load and clear prior to the hearing! The anti-trade elements are hard at work to stop activities involving non-native species.

You can contact members of the subcommittee by emailing or faxing your opposition to HR 669 to their offices in Washington DC urging them to amend the bill. You can also contact district offices to voice your opposition or request a meeting with your Representative. It is also important to organize like-minded people in your district so several of you can visit with your representative at the same time.

In short: the act will introduce a system of two lists: a white list of approved species and a black list of species prohibited for imports. The lists are valid for all territories of the USA! So species potentially behaving invasive in e.g. Florida, will be on the black list for the entire USA. Each species has to be screened for the risk of becoming invasive, imports are suspended until "proven innocent". As hardly any species has been screened yet, almost all species are "guilty" for the moment and imports suspended until the screening took place demonstrating the "innocence". Criteria are such that most species face a serious risk of not passing the criteria.

The email of Marshall Myers of PIJAC-USA:

"ON April 23rd 2009 The Natural Resources Committee of the U.S. Congress will hold a hearing on H.R. 669, a resolution that will in effect ban importation, interstate transport and the private ownership of most birds, mammals, reptiles, and fish as pets. Should HR669 be adopted as written

Only the following nonnative animals would be allowed:

any cat (Felis catus)
cattle or oxen (Bos taurus)
chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus)
dog (Canis lupus familiaris)
donkey or ass (Equus asinus)
domesticated members of the family Anatidae (geese)
duck (domesticated Anas spp.)
goat (Capra aegagrus hircus)
goldfish (Carassius auratus auratus)
horse (Equus caballus)
llama (Lama glama)
mule or hinny (Equus caballus x E. asinus)
pig or hog (Sus scrofa domestica)
domesticated varieties of rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus)
sheep (Ovis aries)

Should this resolution be adopted into law as written it will have a devastating impact on every pet owner and business in the United States.

Action is needed TODAY to protect your rights to keep your pets!

To find
Out what you can do to protect your pets please click on the link below.

Please note that the linked PIJAC PET ALERT requires that you have Adobe Acrobat installed. More info will follow as it becomes available... (http://banner.pethobbyist.com/spclick.php?id=438)" (the list of congresspeople on the committee is in the Adobe file)


Spread the word to , friends, family, and like-minded individuals and urge them to respond to this unworkable approach which is an issue for all of us. Call, email, and fax your local newspapers or tv stations. We need to get the word out.

More info:

www.pijac.org/files/public/US_HR_669.pdf


A group has also been formed on Facebook at the following --> www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=86144566696


Thanks,
Michele Paulhus

Thank you for reading.

[greta]

Thank you for posting this. So far I've had two emails regarding this bill which may possibly become law if it's approved. We need to know what we can do before the April 23 meeting occurs so we can protect our rights to have ferrets as pets. Hugs, Greta

[wildbunch]

You are welcome. I will post more when it becomes available.

[res0a47]

Is this for all the US of A or just the state you live in? I dont think this will even pass. love and God bless sheila

[res0a47]

On that website they have the emails of the congress so I started to eamil every last one. I am going to call our rep here in Tolono. Ill. I don't see how they can do this. do they know how many ferrets owers there are. This is so stupid.