- Joined
- Apr 12, 2003
- Messages
- 152
This was originally posted in the Tarantula forum, but as Scorpion owners it concerns you too, so I am posting it here as well.
As you may or may not be aware, Rhode Island is trying to pass HB 5817. If passed, this would inadvertently stop anyone in RI from owning a Tarantula, because it makes the use of "feeder animals" a crime. Yes, that's right, a CRIME.
That includes Crickets and other insects that are routinely used as food for our tarantulas. If the bill passes into law any person who is caught doing this will lose all of their animals. So does this mean RI tarantula owners are supposed to starve their pets to death? Wouldn't they be violating the same act that way?
Oh wait, I know. They have to put their tarantulas in the car, drive on over the nearest state line and feed the animals there. Then bring them back home with a full belly. Repeat as necessary. I guess it is a good thing that RI is a very small state, the pet owners won't have to drive too many hours to reach the state lines. And what about the serious hobbyists who breed tarantulas? Yep, they better buy a large van or a bus for these
frequent state line trips. Just think about the money that all the bait shops popping up on the RI state line will make. That brings up another interesting thought. Will fishing also be illegal in RI? I mean, is using a worm or a cricket to fish any different than feeding it to your tarantula or lizard?
I don't personally live in RI, but if this law passes in RI how long will it be before other states do the same? You can get the details at the PIJAC website using the following link. What can we do to stop this?
http://www.pijac.org/files/public/RIH5817II.03.pdf
Now, don't get me wrong. I am all for the humane treatment of animals. I think people who abuse or neglect their pets are the worst form of scum, and deserve to be punished. There are positive points to this bill, but making it illegal to feed a cricket to a pet that only eats live prey is ridiculous and it only creates new abuse situations. How many people in RI are going to try to get their animals to eat something unsuitable and just let them starve to death?
To contact the RI government officials, please use the following.
Senator Jack Reed
senator_reed@reed.senate.gov
Senator Lincoln D. Chafee
senator_chafee@chafee.senate.gov
U.S. Rep Patrick J. Kennedy
patrick.kennedy@mail.house.gov
U.S. Rep James R. Langevin
james.langevin@mail.house.gov
Let them know that you think that HB 5817 is a bad idea.
A. D. Payne
As you may or may not be aware, Rhode Island is trying to pass HB 5817. If passed, this would inadvertently stop anyone in RI from owning a Tarantula, because it makes the use of "feeder animals" a crime. Yes, that's right, a CRIME.
That includes Crickets and other insects that are routinely used as food for our tarantulas. If the bill passes into law any person who is caught doing this will lose all of their animals. So does this mean RI tarantula owners are supposed to starve their pets to death? Wouldn't they be violating the same act that way?
Oh wait, I know. They have to put their tarantulas in the car, drive on over the nearest state line and feed the animals there. Then bring them back home with a full belly. Repeat as necessary. I guess it is a good thing that RI is a very small state, the pet owners won't have to drive too many hours to reach the state lines. And what about the serious hobbyists who breed tarantulas? Yep, they better buy a large van or a bus for these
frequent state line trips. Just think about the money that all the bait shops popping up on the RI state line will make. That brings up another interesting thought. Will fishing also be illegal in RI? I mean, is using a worm or a cricket to fish any different than feeding it to your tarantula or lizard?
I don't personally live in RI, but if this law passes in RI how long will it be before other states do the same? You can get the details at the PIJAC website using the following link. What can we do to stop this?
http://www.pijac.org/files/public/RIH5817II.03.pdf
Now, don't get me wrong. I am all for the humane treatment of animals. I think people who abuse or neglect their pets are the worst form of scum, and deserve to be punished. There are positive points to this bill, but making it illegal to feed a cricket to a pet that only eats live prey is ridiculous and it only creates new abuse situations. How many people in RI are going to try to get their animals to eat something unsuitable and just let them starve to death?
To contact the RI government officials, please use the following.
Senator Jack Reed
senator_reed@reed.senate.gov
Senator Lincoln D. Chafee
senator_chafee@chafee.senate.gov
U.S. Rep Patrick J. Kennedy
patrick.kennedy@mail.house.gov
U.S. Rep James R. Langevin
james.langevin@mail.house.gov
Let them know that you think that HB 5817 is a bad idea.
A. D. Payne