Re: Questions for everyone..

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Posted by Mr. D on February 17, 2002 at 10:13:57:

In Reply to: Questions for everyone.. posted by Mike on February 16, 2002 at 14:46:05:

I agree with yourthoughts regarding a "ban" Mike. An outright "ban" will only force the hobby "underground" creating even more of a black market and uninformed hobbyists than there are now. I also agree that there should be some sort of regulation and specific licensing for reptile breeders - otherwise you'll end up with people like DougW "backyard" breeding anything and everything they can get their hands on, creating potentially genetically weak bloodlines and wreaking havoc with future generations of iguanas. One simply doesn't go into this to "make a few extra bucks". Those that do are simply showing their lack of knowledge and experience with reptiles.

Informatoin and education are the keys to all of this. Legislators that are influenced by organizations such as those currently out there lobbying for "bans" are either being bullied by those organizations or just flat out misinformed. Our job, as herpetoculturists, should not only be to police ourselves to ensure that we are all doing everything we can to further the hobby, but also to educate those that need the education. That includes government officials at all levels as well as local Animal Control and Animal Cruelty departments.

Fortunately/unfortunately, as we have just seen with the case that we were personally onvolved in, a little education can get the ball rolling. One must KEEP the ball rolling to ensure that a FULL understanding of the issues is achieved. Otherwise the problems may not become "solved" - just "shifted".....

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: I agree with yourthoughts regarding a "ban" Mike. An outright "ban" will only force the hobby "underground" creating even more of a black market and uninformed hobbyists than there are now. I also agree that there should be some sort of regulation and specific licensing for reptile breeders - otherwise you'll end up with people like DougW "backyard" breeding anything and everything they can get their hands on, creating potentially genetically weak bloodlines and wreaking havoc with future generations of iguanas. One simply doesn't go into this to "make a few extra bucks". Those that do are simply showing their lack of knowledge and experience with reptiles. : Informatoin and education are the keys to all of this. Legislators that are influenced by organizations such as those currently out there lobbying for "bans" are either being bullied by those organizations or just flat out misinformed. Our job, as herpetoculturists, should not only be to police ourselves to ensure that we are all doing everything we can to further the hobby, but also to educate those that need the education. That includes government officials at all levels as well as local Animal Control and Animal Cruelty departments. : Fortunately/unfortunately, as we have just seen with the case that we were personally onvolved in, a little education can get the ball rolling. One must KEEP the ball rolling to ensure that a FULL understanding of the issues is achieved. Otherwise the problems may not become "solved" - just "shifted".....

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