Pet Ban HR 669

[isurus79]

I doubt this bill will pass, its just too egregious, even for today's politicians! I sent a letter off to my congressman some time back and I wish I had saved the response. It was pretty similar to Becky's congressman.

[IraGlacialis]

This bill looks like a load of crock.

Besides the already-stated reasons, if this bill passes it will start a process that erode our rights what we can or cannot have.
We all know the havoc that plants such as kudzu, water hyacinth, and purple loostrife have done upon American ecosystems. Why not pass a ban on all non-native species of plant (including orchids) for personal gardening? They may not seem like a threat now, but you can't be too sure.
Despite stringent measures, species such as zebra mussel can still hitch a ride in ship ballasts. The result is damages not only in the environmental sense but in an economic/infrastructural sense as well. Let's ban shipping, even at the expense of our already crippled economy.
Pigs and goats escape from farms and become feral. Ban them.
The selective nature of orchards can cause genetic-related diseases to be passed on to wild plants. Ban them.
See a pattern here?

Besides, a lot of species are extinct/endangered in the wild and are only being on this earth due to breeding programs by responsible pet owners.

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by IraGlacialis

This bill looks like a load of crock.

Besides the already-stated reasons, if this bill passes it will start a process that erode our rights what we can or cannot have.
We all know the havoc that plants such as kudzu, water hyacinth, and purple loostrife have done upon American ecosystems. Why not pass a ban on all non-native species of plant (including orchids) for personal gardening? They may not seem like a threat now, but you can't be too sure.
Despite stringent measures, species such as zebra mussel can still hitch a ride in ship ballasts. The result is damages not only in the environmental sense but in an economic/infrastructural sense as well. Let's ban shipping, even at the expense of our already crippled economy.
Pigs and goats escape from farms and become feral. Ban them.
The selective nature of orchards can cause genetic-related diseases to be passed on to wild plants. Ban them.
See a pattern here?

Besides, a lot of species are extinct/endangered in the wild and are only being on this earth due to breeding programs by responsible pet owners.

:iagree: Its a slippery slope for sure.

[IraGlacialis]

Almost forgot: Does it seem a bit hypocritical that cats aren't included as well?
People let them run loose so they can attack and kill native reptiles and songbirds. Their more independent nature grants them a higher propensity at becoming feral, which compounds the former problem. Since spading/neutering is not mandatory, many of these ferals (and some domesticated) will create self-sustaining populations in the wild. On top of all of that, unlike most exotic reptiles and birds, felines are not bound by winter in more northerly regions of the continental US.

If this bill, or one similar, should be brought up, it should be at the state/local, not federal, level. Even then I disagree with it (except for Hawaii; they already have stringent measures anyways).
Programs such as microchipping, education, and harsher penalties for dumping exotics in the wild are fairer and more effective measures.
If possible, I'd even say create a genetic bank of exotics on the pet trade on top of the microchipping. If an exotic is found in the wild, it will be able to be traced back to the owner who last had it. If it is the decedents of that feral, genetics will trace it back to the original parent, and then to the owner.