aameenah
A very deadly creampuff.
...and all others interested in anti-pet legislation...
There has been a thread or two discussing this already, but I thought I'd bring it up as there's some new resources. There are some proposed changes to the Wildlife Act that will put some huge restrictions and/or prohibitions on keeping exotic pets. Momentum is gaining in the opposition of these proposals.
For more information (and online petition, fwiw)
http://aqua-terra-vita.com/ATVIIR/CATAL/catal.php
There is also a hard copy of another petition that's being placed in petstores etc, if you'd like a copy, PM me or check out the Facebook group "Stop the Reptile Ban in BC"
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=9833945263
Third, PIJAC has put forth this statement...
http://aqua-terra-vita.com/ATVIIR/CATAL/catalArticleLibrary/pijacAlert.pdf
...and has kindly written a sample letter to send to the Minister of the Environment and local MPs
enclosure: SAMPLE LETTER
February 12, 2008
The Honourable Barry PennerBC Minister of the Environment
P.O. Box 9047, Stn. Prov. Govt.
Victoria, BC,
V8W 9E2
Subject: Possible changes to the BC Wildlife Act
Dear Minister Penner,
It has come to my attention that your ministry is looking at the possibility of making changes to the BC Wildlife Act, and that some of the potential changes might impact my present and future ability to keep an exotic pet. As a resident of British Columbia, I want to express my strong opposition to suggestions calling for the ownership of well established exotic pets to be prohibited in our province, as some of the proposed changes could severely affect me personally.
Like thousands of my fellow British Columbians, who share their lives with one or more exotic pets, I was unaware of last summer’s consultation exercise. Because I believe in having the proper information before making a decision, I respectfully request that you consult the appropriate stakeholder groups and obtain their information before taking any action on such an important issue.
I am sure that pet owners, hobby groups and associations, having hands-on experience with the keeping of exotic pets, would be very interested in sharing their knowledge and expertise with your staff and to assist your ministry in this decision making process. Access to these groups could easily be obtained through an association like PIJAC Canada for example.
Exotic pets are very important to me and my family. They pose no greater risk to public health, public safety and the environment than the more traditional pets. The fact that they happen to be something other than a dog or a cat doesn’t make them dangerous, it just makes them different. For many of us, they represent the best and sometimes the only alternative when it comes to owning a pet. I am asking you to take this information into consideration and I look forward to your reply.
Sincerely,
NameAddress
c.c.: Your BC government elected official (MLA)
Contact information for BC Minister of the Environment:
The Honourable Barry Penner
BC Minister of the Environment
P.O. Box 9047, Stn. Prov. Govt.
Victoria, BC,
V8W 9E2
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 250-356-0830
Fax: 250 -387-1356
Please take the time to forward this, write the letters, hand a petition around,we need all the help we can get, as the AR wackos are months ahead of us!
There has been a thread or two discussing this already, but I thought I'd bring it up as there's some new resources. There are some proposed changes to the Wildlife Act that will put some huge restrictions and/or prohibitions on keeping exotic pets. Momentum is gaining in the opposition of these proposals.
For more information (and online petition, fwiw)
http://aqua-terra-vita.com/ATVIIR/CATAL/catal.php
There is also a hard copy of another petition that's being placed in petstores etc, if you'd like a copy, PM me or check out the Facebook group "Stop the Reptile Ban in BC"
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=9833945263
Third, PIJAC has put forth this statement...
http://aqua-terra-vita.com/ATVIIR/CATAL/catalArticleLibrary/pijacAlert.pdf
...and has kindly written a sample letter to send to the Minister of the Environment and local MPs
enclosure: SAMPLE LETTER
February 12, 2008
The Honourable Barry PennerBC Minister of the Environment
P.O. Box 9047, Stn. Prov. Govt.
Victoria, BC,
V8W 9E2
Subject: Possible changes to the BC Wildlife Act
Dear Minister Penner,
It has come to my attention that your ministry is looking at the possibility of making changes to the BC Wildlife Act, and that some of the potential changes might impact my present and future ability to keep an exotic pet. As a resident of British Columbia, I want to express my strong opposition to suggestions calling for the ownership of well established exotic pets to be prohibited in our province, as some of the proposed changes could severely affect me personally.
Like thousands of my fellow British Columbians, who share their lives with one or more exotic pets, I was unaware of last summer’s consultation exercise. Because I believe in having the proper information before making a decision, I respectfully request that you consult the appropriate stakeholder groups and obtain their information before taking any action on such an important issue.
I am sure that pet owners, hobby groups and associations, having hands-on experience with the keeping of exotic pets, would be very interested in sharing their knowledge and expertise with your staff and to assist your ministry in this decision making process. Access to these groups could easily be obtained through an association like PIJAC Canada for example.
Exotic pets are very important to me and my family. They pose no greater risk to public health, public safety and the environment than the more traditional pets. The fact that they happen to be something other than a dog or a cat doesn’t make them dangerous, it just makes them different. For many of us, they represent the best and sometimes the only alternative when it comes to owning a pet. I am asking you to take this information into consideration and I look forward to your reply.
Sincerely,
NameAddress
c.c.: Your BC government elected official (MLA)
Contact information for BC Minister of the Environment:
The Honourable Barry Penner
BC Minister of the Environment
P.O. Box 9047, Stn. Prov. Govt.
Victoria, BC,
V8W 9E2
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 250-356-0830
Fax: 250 -387-1356
Please take the time to forward this, write the letters, hand a petition around,we need all the help we can get, as the AR wackos are months ahead of us!