Nonnative Wildlife Invasion Prevention Act (HR 669)
PetSmart, our friends in the pet specialty industry and pet parents are watching closely a proposed new regulation beginning to inch its way through Congress. The Nonnative Wildlife Invasion Prevention Act (HR 669) proposes an unreasonably complicated and ineffective process to determine which non-native species can be in the country and which ones can't, including species (many enjoyed as pets) that already are well established in the U.S.
The bill creates severe restrictions that could adversely impact the importation, breeding, sale, or interstate transport of common household pets such as gerbils, hamsters, guinea pigs, fish, and various birds, reptiles and amphibians in the U.S. A coalition of animal rights groups that includes the Humane Society of the U.S. is pushing for the bill's passage without amendments.
While PetSmart agrees with and supports the underlying premise of the proposed regulation - to keep harmful non-native species out of the country - we oppose the proposed legislation on several grounds. More specifically:
* We support a process that more fully takes into account the risks associated with various species based on sound scientific data.
* We believe the current drafting of the bill does not take into account existing protective measures, the impact to pet parents and the economic impact on the pet specialty industry. It also requires funds and staffing not currently available to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, which would be tasked with administrating and enforcing the regulation. Moreover, it could lead to the mass release and/or euthanasia of pets.
* We believe a more practical and meaningful regulatory process could be developed and implemented in a timely manner. Along with our industry partners we've offered our expertise to help craft legislation that is more reasonable and still achieves the desired intent.
* We believe the small pets, reptiles, fish, birds and amphibians we sell currently meet the intent of the bill and do not create any of the risks outlined in the proposed legislation, yet virtually all of them would be in jeopardy under the bill as currently drafted.
A hearing on the bill is scheduled April 23 in the House Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans & Wildlife. PetSmart will be represented at the hearing by the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Committee, a pet industry trade organization of which we are a member.
We will continue to advocate for a more effective approach to regulating harmful non-native species.
