Curious about opinions on HSUS stand.

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Posted by LauraO on February 15, 2002 at 18:04:20:

Hi there. I posted the artists wanted post as the founder of the Corucia Conservation Alliance. I started the group because, as a biologist, I am deeply concerned for the conservation and future of many living species. As a person, I consider myself an animal lover. Rather than wait around for work I really wanted to be a part of to come to me, I felt it was time to start my own thing.

I also am a licensed wildlife rehabber by New York State, and support many chartities.

For most people who peruse kingsnake.com and who consider themselves herp fans, the HSUS book on the reptile trade seems to be an abomination that leans too much to one side. Though some laws are in motion to solve some problems mentioned in the book such as those revolving around illegal trade, I feel overall that the book is pretty accurate, being that the overall bottom line is that too many animals are suffering and dying in the pet, meat and hide trades for it to be fair to let it continue.

It seems to me that many people in the U.S. feel that their "rights" should include the right to own wild animals, even if that means the processes which allow that to be so cause many deaths for every one animals they possess, regardless of whether or not their personal animals is well cared for.

I never realized that when our forefathers fought for the right for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, they were fighting for the right to import reptiles. Furthermore, they did fight for the "pursuit" of happiness, and not for the guarantee that you will actually get it.

Does anyone else here see my point? Most of my animals were obtained via throwaways, or private persons. Though i did myself buy a few from expo dealers ( I do admit to it) it was to get them out of bad hands, and I will never do it again. I feel horrible I ever supported that trade, but even as I bought, I turned around to support legislation that would ban their export. And now it has happened. Corucia zebrata is illegal to export according to CITES, due to apparent exploitation by the government of its native land, and the market given them by the US Pet trade.

I read the iguana forum most of the time. It seems many of you rescued your igs from bad situations. I even read the post about "breeders, we chew them up and spit them out here!"
I thought that was great! You guys seem to be some of the few who love animals for what they are, regardless of whether or not you profit by them.

So what do you think? I mean, would it be so wrong to ban at least the import of herps? Why not do what the bird trade did via the Wild Bird Conservation Act? Breed only and register and band all the young produced?

"If you love something, set it free...."

Follow Ups:

Re: Curious about opinions on HSUS stand. Samcin 02/16/02 (0)
Re: Curious about opinions on HSUS stand. Karen 02/15/02 (2)
- not a total ban but... meretseger 02/18/02 (1)
  - Re: I wish I hadn't heard of that eye-squeezing thing.. LauraO 02/19/02 (0)

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: Hi there. I posted the artists wanted post as the founder of the Corucia Conservation Alliance. I started the group because, as a biologist, I am deeply concerned for the conservation and future of many living species. As a person, I consider myself an animal lover. Rather than wait around for work I really wanted to be a part of to come to me, I felt it was time to start my own thing. : I also am a licensed wildlife rehabber by New York State, and support many chartities. : For most people who peruse kingsnake.com and who consider themselves herp fans, the HSUS book on the reptile trade seems to be an abomination that leans too much to one side. Though some laws are in motion to solve some problems mentioned in the book such as those revolving around illegal trade, I feel overall that the book is pretty accurate, being that the overall bottom line is that too many animals are suffering and dying in the pet, meat and hide trades for it to be fair to let it continue. : It seems to me that many people in the U.S. feel that their "rights" should include the right to own wild animals, even if that means the processes which allow that to be so cause many deaths for every one animals they possess, regardless of whether or not their personal animals is well cared for. : I never realized that when our forefathers fought for the right for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, they were fighting for the right to import reptiles. Furthermore, they did fight for the "pursuit" of happiness, and not for the guarantee that you will actually get it. : Does anyone else here see my point? Most of my animals were obtained via throwaways, or private persons. Though i did myself buy a few from expo dealers ( I do admit to it) it was to get them out of bad hands, and I will never do it again. I feel horrible I ever supported that trade, but even as I bought, I turned around to support legislation that would ban their export. And now it has happened. Corucia zebrata is illegal to export according to CITES, due to apparent exploitation by the government of its native land, and the market given them by the US Pet trade. : I read the iguana forum most of the time. It seems many of you rescued your igs from bad situations. I even read the post about "breeders, we chew them up and spit them out here!" : I thought that was great! You guys seem to be some of the few who love animals for what they are, regardless of whether or not you profit by them. : So what do you think? I mean, would it be so wrong to ban at least the import of herps? Why not do what the bird trade did via the Wild Bird Conservation Act? Breed only and register and band all the young produced? : "If you love something, set it free...."

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