The “Traveling Exotic Animal and Public Safety Protection Act” (or TEAPSPA) has now been introduced in the Senate (S. 2121) as well as the House of Representatives (H.R. 2683). These companion bills are broad-sweeping bans on “traveling animal acts” authored by radical animal rights groups. These animal rights extremists have again fed legislators their misinformation and false propaganda, so we ...

Assembly Bill 479: Dangerous Wild Animal bill UPDATE from 5/18/19: Died in Senate Natural Resources Committee (failed to have hearing and vote by the deadline). This bill is dead. UPDATE: AB479 has passed in the Assembly and must be stopped in the Senate. It has been referred to Senate Committee on Natural Resources. Help stop this bill in just a few minutes by ...

A bill to support! Texas House Bill 3559 would ban the destructive practice of "gassing." Gassing is the dumping or spraying of toxic chemicals into wildlife burrows and dens to force out wildlife. Often, gassing is used to collect rattlesnakes for roundup events where the snakes are then kicked, killed, and even have their mouths sewn shut to be handled for ...

Senate Bill 64 removes all State protections for rattlesnakes in Alabama. As if snakes were not under enough pressure, now certain cities in Alabama will be allowed to do whatever they want with them, including kill all of them they can find at public events and festivals. "This bill would prohibit the Commissioner of Conservation and Natural Resources and the ...

UPDATE 5/4/19: These bills failed to pass committee and are now dead for this session. UPDATE 3/5/19: HB1105 has been referred to the House Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee. Contact details for all Representatives can be found at www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Committees/committeesdetail.aspx?SessionId=87&CommitteeId=3024. UPDATE 2/27/19: A companion bill has been introduced in the House as House Bill 1105. This means there are two bills of very ...

Contact legislators today! This bill needs to be amended! UPDATE: SB38 died as it did not pass through the House and complete the legislative process. This bill bans the selling and purchasing of any species listed under Appendix 1 of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna (CITES) as well as a short list of other ...

A bill to support! Texas HB135 puts a halt to radical animal rights groups misleading legislators with their "traveling animal act" and "animal performance" bans. Across the country, we have seen these bans proposed at both local and state levels. Some states have already passed these superfluous laws. Instead of enforcing current animal welfare and cruelty laws, legislators are being duped into ...

UPDATE! On March 28, California Senate Bill 313 was amended (a second amendment following the March 21 amendment). The language is now very different. The bill specifically bans animals (other than domesticated dogs, cats, and horses) in traditional circuses. The educational programs which were affected under the introduced language have accepted the amendments and now support the bill. The latest ...

UPDATE March 5: The bill sponsor tabled (pulled from consideration) HB2554 at today's hearing. This would not have happened without an outpouring of opposition! Be sure to contact legislators listed below and also fill out this form. Be sure to choose "Opponent." LINK: www.my.ilga.gov/WitnessSlip/Create/118661?committeeHearingId=16603&LegislationId=118661&LegislationDocumentId=149787&GridCurrentCommittees-page=7&fbclid=IwAR10xoI3TM35w9ChdE1VSf1kqCrc78rh4MTSg9CNzzB-XS-zF53hbBSwhVs Very basic summary: Ban on any animal species non-native to the U.S. being transported and then viewed by ...

This bill amends (or edits) the current "Sale of Pets" law (RSA 437:1). It removes the current language of "engaged in the business of transferring" and replaces it with "that transfers 20 or more" and creates the term pet vendor. It applies to any animal which can be sold as a pet, so basically all species. Under the current language, ...

UPDATE 2/27/19: HB688 has been "laid on table." The bill may be voted on someday, but for now, the bill has been set aside (or tabled). If the session ends and the bill has not been taken off the table, the bill dies. Utterly irrational and completely overreaching! This is easily one of the greatest examples of nanny statism (overprotective government ...

This is a ban on teaching children about animals through educational outreach, a ban on animals in 4-H, and much more! UPDATE from 4/5/19: The bill did go to hearing and after being informed of all the unintended consequences the legislators have realized this bill is not good for Rhode Island. Legislators also were not thrilled, obviously, about being misinformed by animal ...

UPDATE from 2/18/19: Good news! Thanks to all those who opposed this ordinance and educated officials, the proposal was not approved and another draft will be written. We will provide updates as they become available. The City of Wausau, Wisconsin is proposing a ban on all constrictor snakes, venomous snakes including non-medically significant rear-fanged species such as hognose, and venomous ...

UPDATE 2/21/19: The Commissioners voted to list the yellow anaconda as a prohibited species. Current owners must register their animals with FWC to have their ownership grandfathered. Prohibited species may only be possessed or imported into the state for research or qualifying public exhibit. You can find the full regulation at www.flrules.org/gateway/chapterhome.asp?chapter=68-5. Per the regulation, "No person shall import into the state, ...

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) has proposed changes to Chapter 65 of the Texas Administrative Code (T.A.C.) regarding four species of turtles. These species are: red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans); common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina); smooth softshell (Apalone mutica), and; spiny softshell (Apalone spinifera). We have provided the full details below but to summarize: These four species will no longer be ...

HR6362 has been introduced and is titled the “Invasive Fish and Wildlife Prevention Act of 2018.” The bill was introduced by Representative Elise Stefanik and there were no cosponsors upon introduction. A companion bill, S3210, was introduced by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. It also had no cosponsors upon introduction. These bills are yet another flawed approach for dealing with the problem ...

Meeting: June 21, 2018 at 10:00 AM AGFC Headquarters 2 Natural Resources Drive Little Rock, AR 72205 Subject: Suspension of import permits and review/amending of wildlife regulations Summary: The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) Director and staff are recommending that the Commission temporarily (120 days) suspend issuing any Wildlife Importation Permits (except for accredited members of the Association of ...

UPDATE: Many stakeholders and USARK President Phil Goss spoke at the meeting to educate the commissioners. An executive order was not put in place but the topic has not been dropped and will be addressed again at a future commissioner's meeting. We will provide details as they become available. ____________________________________________________________________________________________ The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) will be ...

"HUMANE STATE" License Plate Fund UPDATE: The bill passed in the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee on 2/15/18, but with an amendment. HSUS has been removed as the recipient of the funds and replaced with the Animal Welfare Federation of New Jersey. Nice job to all those who voiced opposition and educated legislators! There is a bill (S883) seeking to provide ...

New Jersey S1093: Ban on Educational Outreach Programs UPDATE 12/14/18: Passed with amendments below (species defined). This is the final language which was passed: www.njleg.state.nj.us/2018/Bills/A2000/1923_R2.PDF UPDATE 10/22/18: Passed Assembly Appropriations Committee. UPDATE: S1093 passed committee on 5/31/18 with amendments. While this bill is still completely unnecessary and a redundancy when stacked on top of animal welfare and cruelty laws already in ...

New Jersey A1923: Ban on Educational Outreach Programs UPDATE 12/14/18: Passed but with the amendments below (species defined). This is the final language which was passed: www.njleg.state.nj.us/2018/Bills/A2000/1923_R2.PDF UPDATE 10/22/18: Passed Assembly Appropriations Committee. UPDATE: The bill passed out of committee on May 17 with amendments. While this bill is still completely unnecessary and a redundancy when stacked on top of ...

EXPIRED UPDATE: "Nosey's Law" has been vetoed ("pocket veto") in New Jersey thanks to all the calls, emails, and work done to educate legislators! However, work is already being done to get this passed into law under the new governor. While the next introduction may have some exemptions, we have seen this bill in other states which only exempted AZA-accredited zoos ...

EXPIRED Remember to be professional and civil at all times! EXPIRED HB591 Died in Committee on January 30th! Mississippi House Bill 591 (HB591) is a duplicate of last year's HB1, and HB23 in 2016. HB591 seeks to add “all poisonous or venomous species” of snakes to the state list of “inherently dangerous wild animals.” This would ban the importation, sale, ...

Remember to be professional and courteous at all times! Nevada Board of Wildlife Commissioners: Commission Regulation 17-02, Noncommercial Collection of Reptiles and Amphibians, Amendment #1: For Possible Action/Public Comment Allowed Summary: The Nevada Board of Wildlife Commissioners may consider making changes to the current regulation regarding the noncommercial hobby collecting of non-threatened (or "unprotected") species of reptiles and amphibians. Species on the State ...

Animal "Display and Performance" Ban Remember to be civil and professional! UPDATE: We've been informed that the ordinance will be extremely focused and not widespread to affect legitimate animal education programs. However, local residents and stakeholders should still contact officials and request any proposal be done through collaboration with animal educators and not animal rights groups. Kingman, AZ will be ...

August 4, 1987 ~ June 8, 2017 Obituary via www.myersfuneralhome.biz/notices/BenjaminBen-Renick. Donations may be made below. Blue-Brich “Ben” Renick, 29, of New Florence, Missouri, tragically lost his life on Thursday, June 8, 2017 at his place of business in New Florence, leaving behind his wife, Lynlee and two children, Matty and Emma. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at ...

HR48 “American Sovereignty and Species Protection Act” and the SAVES Act as HR930 and S276 UPDATE 2/9/21: The SAVES Act (see details below) has been re-introduced this session in both the Senate and House. S276 and HR930 would amend the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to prohibit the listing of living nonnative species as threatened or endangered species. S276 was introduced ...

If you are a reptile and amphibian enthusiast who has been spending time under a rock (which actually is not too uncommon if you are a field herper), USARK was successful in quashing the overreach demonstrated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) when taking federal action to unjustly ban the interstate transportation of snake species commonly kept by ...

Breeder/Seller Know and follow all applicable laws where you live or travel to with animals. State, county, and municipal laws, regulations, and ordinances can be more restrictive than federal laws and regulations. Be sure you know and follow all laws that could impact keeping, selling, and transporting the species you work with. Remain current on updated husbandry knowledge. Expect that ...

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) interpretation that injurious listings under the Lacey Act, one of the nation’s oldest conservation laws, banned interstate commerce was tossed out by a federal court, in a ruling made on April 7th, 2017. In a case brought by us, the United States Association of Reptile Keepers (USARK), the United States Court of Appeals for ...