Please comment!

[justjumpit621]

If this rule is put into affect, many of the chameleon breeders on this forums will be shut down! INCLUDING the people who are responsible for breeding the much loved Parsons chameleons! http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=APHIS-2011-0003-0001

 

[Zubi]

WOW THAT IS RIDICULOUS. "Retail pet stores are not required to be licensed and inspected under the AWA." Now petco can sell more chameleons because the demand would be higher, and they wouldnt have to be regulated

 

[skittles1234]

Breaks my heart. These poor animals are nothing but merchandise to these people. Like they are stuffed toys anyone can own or sell. Insanity

 

[Olimpia]

Would it affect breeders? I'm not sure online businesses are considered retail to begin with?

 

[ISA my Veiled]

WOW now everyone can be subject to the ridiculous pricing of PETCO and Petsmart yay! I wish people cared more about the well being of everyone else than just changing the rules to "Improve our economy" and get money flow to more places, this is ridiculous...

 

[Wykd]

ignore this post, revised position after re-reading again for 5th time.

 

[Brad]

I need to read it more carefully but my initial take was similar to justjumpit. These modifications would make private breeders no longer classified as retail, opening them to AWA regulations. That could mean license requirements and opening their homes to government inspection. If that's correct then I think it would indirectly shut down many breeders.

Unless otherwise exempt under the regulations, these entities would be required to obtain a license from APHIS and would become subject to the requirements of the AWA, which include identification of animals and recordkeeping requirements, as well as the following standards: Facilities and operations (including space, structure and construction, waste disposal, heating, ventilation, lighting, and interior surface requirements for indoor and outdoor primary enclosures and housing facilities); animal health and husbandry (including requirements for veterinary care, sanitation and feeding, watering, and separation of animals); and transportation (including specifications for primary enclosures, primary conveyances, terminal facilities, and feeding, watering, care, and handling of animals in transit).

 

[djfishygillz]

So this is another way for the government to try and take our money? By trying to disguise it as them caring about animals? When in reality the sick animals are the ones at the corporations...

 

[djfishygillz]

Sorry about that last comment I am just confused. It just seems like they see the pet trade as pretty untaxed and unregulated so they want only corporations provide the reptiles to the public.

 

[ReptileLover0423]

 

[Wykd]

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/publications/animal_welfare/2012/retail_pets_faq.pdf

Good FAQ on this subject above!

According to that they are focusing on breeders with 5 or more breeding females on site.

I am also not sure but it looks like they are excluding cold blooded species from this change. But its kind of a grey area. It would impact importer & wild caught re sellers though I think.

Unless your selling wholesale (to pet stores and other breeders?) or for research use then it should be exempt if the statement below reads correctly?

The proposal will restore the definition to its
original intent so that it limits the retail pet store
exemption to only those places of business and
residence:
• that buyers physically enter to observe the
animals available for sale prior to purchase and/
or to take custody of the animals after purchase,
and
• where only the following animals are sold or
offered for sale at retail for use as pets: Dogs,
cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils,
rats, mice, gophers, chinchilla, domestic ferrets,
domestic farm

 

[Brad]

They mention cold blooded species:

II. Summary of Major Provisions

"Retail pet stores'' are not required to obtain a license under
the AWA or comply with the AWA regulations and standards. Currently,
anyone selling, at retail, the following animals for use as pets are
considered retail pet stores: Dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs,
hamsters, gerbils, rats, mice, gophers, chinchilla, domestic ferrets,
domestic farm animals, birds, and cold-blooded species.

This proposed rule would rescind the "retail pet store'' status of
anyone selling, at retail for use as pets, the animals listed above to
buyers who do not physically enter his or her place of business or
residence in order to personally observe the animals available for sale
prior to purchase and/or to take custody of the animals after purchase.
Unless otherwise exempt under the regulations, these entities would be
required to obtain a license from APHIS and would become subject to the
requirements of the AWA ...

The original link is almost 3 months old. I'm sure there is some discussion elsewhere that might be worth looking at.

 

[justjumpit621]

All I know is all of my breeder friends, warm and cold blooded, are freaking out and say they will be shut down. This is also what I get out of reading this.

 

[Wykd]

If your a big breeder yeah it may be a problem, but if your a small breeder no impact.

" Based on a recent review of compliance among currently regulated facilities, we believe that a facility that maintains four breeding females, one more than the current limit of three, can be considered a low-risk facility and exempt from regulation even if they sell their animals sight-unseen."

How will they monitor your "Female Breeder Stock"? Anyone who has animals and sells one over craigslist or a forum etc... would be subject to inspection? IE my cat just had a litter of kittens and I post an ad on craigslist that would allow them to come inspect my cats?