Reptile & Amphibian Abuse: Examples, Laws & How You Can Help

[findi]

Hi All,

Have you observed herp abuse, or do you suspect that it is occurring in a store, food market, private collection or elsewhere? It can be difficult to know for sure, and even harder to decide what to do about it. The following article may be of some help, and I’ll do my best to advise those who post questions and concerns.

Unfortunately, animal abuse is a serious and surprisingly common problem in the USA. The applicable laws vary from state to state, and it can be difficult to determine which agency is responsible for enforcement. Regulatory agencies are often under-funded, so many rely upon citizen complaints. It is important, therefore, that concerned people learn how to proceed when they suspect that animal abuse is taking place. This is especially true where reptiles and amphibians are concerned, as they draw less interest than mammals, and mistreatment is difficult to detect by the inexperienced. Please be sure to post your own observations below, and let me know if you need help in deciding how to report a problem.
Read article here http://bitly.com/Ut6sJa
Comments and questions appreciated. As I do not place notices here each time I post a new article on That Reptile Blog, you may wish to check in periodically or subscribe; you can do so here http://bitly.com/JJNk9h. Please also check out my posts on Twitter http://bitly.com/JP27Nj.

Thanks, Frank
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[The Snark]

This is something I've been on the sidelines about over the years. In America, animal abuse stems from negligence and arrogance for the most part. Thinking of animals as toys and playthings that can be discarded on a whim. Then moving to the third world the abuse continues but for very different reasons. People are constantly hunting animals illegally, but for many their survival is at stake. Sell the animals to supplement their income or send them to the stew pots.
I'm sure not seeing any sensible solution for the problem. The great American tradition of making laws to replace personal responsibility and common sense is a solid no win mess.
I'd like to hear some other peoples takes on this.

Okay, here is an example. Quoting the Bangkok Post today:

"An animal rights group has staged a protest against a German man who stabbed a dog to death and sued its owner.
More than 50 members of A Call for Animal Rights Thailand led by Paveena Weerathamjamras, 31, on Saturday gathered in front of the 65-year-old German's house in Sattahip district of Chon Buri province.
Ms Paveena told Thai Rath that the man killed a two-year-old golden retriever that had bit him on his leg and arm by stabbing it more than 20 times on Nov 12.
On top of that, the German is also suing the couple who owned the dog for 300,000 baht while he was fined only 1,000 baht for animal cruelty, according to the group.
The protesters rejected an invitation from the man's wife to send a representative to talk with them inside the house.
More than 10 police officers were assigned to ensure peace and order. The group dispersed soon afterward but pledged to rally at the German embassy in order to pressure the man into dropping the lawsuit against the dog's owners.
Ms Paveena said the incident was another reason why Thailand should pass laws with stiffer penalties against animal cruelty."

Meanwhile, on any given day I can find a couple dozen instances of animal abuse that goes ignored and unpunished. From the front line of defense from vector born diseases; the slaughter of billions of frogs for a tasty local delicacy to elephant and tiger hunters. 100 km to the south is a huge market that sells thousands of snakes, all completely illegal, but the kick backs and pay offs are in and only the local people are involved. Stray dogs are scooped up by the thousands, destined for the stew pots. The dogs are considered a nuisance and the police turn a blind eye unless strongly motivated. And the list goes on.

What's the solution?

 

[findi]

This is something I've been on the sidelines about over the years. In America, animal abuse stems from negligence and arrogance for the most part. Thinking of animals as toys and playthings that can be discarded on a whim. Then moving to the third world the abuse continues but for very different reasons. People are constantly hunting animals illegally, but for many their survival is at stake. Sell the animals to supplement their income or send them to the stew pots.
I'm sure not seeing any sensible solution for the problem. The great American tradition of making laws to replace personal responsibility and common sense is a solid no win mess.
I'd like to hear some other peoples takes on this.


Love the "sea of monkeys" quote...I've worked with monkeys and have taught grammar school!

What you say seems true in general, but, in my experiences in the USA, Asia and S America, and in that of many colleagues, there are many exceptions as well. Turtle farm owners/workers/trappers in the SE USA, for example, are often not well off, economically, and the collapse of certain markets here has been difficult for them. In SE Asia and China, enormous sums of money are made by many in the food-pet-medicinal products markets; and so on.

In the USA, which is so huge and diverse, relying upon common sense/personal responsibility is largely unworkable in most situations. Laws, when properly enforced, have proven very successful; but with so many other concerns, and economic realities, enforcement is not always practical.

Best, Frank

 

[The Snark]

In the USA, which is so huge and diverse, relying upon common sense/personal responsibility is largely unworkable in most situations. Laws, when properly enforced, have proven very successful; but with so many other concerns, and economic realities, enforcement is not always practical.
Best, Frank

Speaking as a former police officer, in the USA, relying on policing entities is unworkable. If we enforced every law to the letter all officers in the country would be 24/7 just filling out paperwork and making court appearances. Both the law makers and the public needs to get a grip. Relying entirely on the law enforcement entities is a fantasy. Look at Oakland Calif. One of the most crime ridden cities in the country and now a solid 1/3 of the officers has been cut back. You want us to chase down animal abusers when violent criminals are running rampant. We're still obligated to ruin kids lives for having a puff on a joint. An average arrest takes a cop off the street for 2 hours. For a full follow up, 6 hours, not counting court appearances.
Get real. Act responsibly. Teach the kids to act responsibly. Work on self respect and let that spill over into respect of others, and on down to the animals. Stop expecting the law enforcement to change everyone's diapers and do the potty training. Right now it's a wake up call in the US. More laws than ever with thousands of new ones generated each year and the funds to enforce those laws are getting cut back more each day. And then, when an officer give it 100% it is almost inevitable s/he will be called gestapo.

And please keep in mind, pure black and white is rare. I once did some target practice taking out 10 dogs running loose. I was given a public service citation while our station was inundated in complaints of animal abuse. We need real solutions and that starts at the grass roots. Law enforcement should be called in when things get out of control, not there to hold everyone's hand the moment something isn't just the picture perfect heaven people fantasize life should be.

Sorry about the rant but this is beyond frustrating. At least here in Thaiville things are a little more real. Never ever call a cop unless you have an open and shut case or a hefty bribe ready. Everyone covers each other and walks a thin line. Generally speaking, the last thing anyone wants is the fantastically corrupt police getting in on things.

 

[findi]

Very good points..many relatives are NYPD and understand what you say; I believe people should act as you outline, I'm just not optimistic, given what I see. Although crime is down here, people seem less well-behaved and responsible each year. Best, Frank

 

[The Snark]

I highly recommend the George Carlin schtick about ecology and environmentalism. "'Save the whales! Save the snails! Protect mother earth! BULLS**T! The earth is doing just fine. It's people that are going away. Maybe the earth wanted plastic. Our job is done now and we can be phased out."

 

[Entomancer]

I highly recommend the George Carlin schtick about ecology and environmentalism. "'Save the whales! Save the snails! Protect mother earth! BULLS**T! The earth is doing just fine. It's people that are going away. Maybe the earth wanted plastic. Our job is done now and we can be phased out."

I disagree, strongly.

Just because Earth will exist beyond our extinction doesn't make it okay to ignore what's happening to all the different species around the globe. Earth is not a static system, but it stays in relative equilibrium, even after natural disasters. Humans have been modifying Earth for thousands of years, and at the current going rate, Earth will only begin to return to an equilibrium after humanity, crippled by widespread disease and resource shortages, crumbles. At that point, Earth will be a desolate wasteland, and it will be a very long time before it returns to anything resembling equilibrium.

Nihilism is a poor way to view this problem, and really, it is tantamount to little more than educated laziness.

 

[The Snark]

[/COLOR]

I disagree, strongly.

Just because Earth will exist beyond our extinction doesn't make it okay to ignore what's happening to all the different species around the globe. Earth is not a static system, but it stays in relative equilibrium, even after natural disasters. Humans have been modifying Earth for thousands of years, and at the current going rate, Earth will only begin to return to an equilibrium after humanity, crippled by widespread disease and resource shortages, crumbles. At that point, Earth will be a desolate wasteland, and it will be a very long time before it returns to anything resembling equilibrium.

Nihilism is a poor way to view this problem, and really, it is tantamount to little more than educated laziness.

You need to see and hear Carlin's full take on it. His point is, the planet will continue to exist long after humans are gone. Raped, pillaged, plundered, covered in plastic trash and poisonous liquid once known as water. Continue to exist and doing just fine, if more resembling Mars.

Be all that as it may, pumping millions of gallons of oozey crud from the ground every day just to sustain the present lifestyle is about as rude and conceited as it can get. For myself, I firmly adhere to the native American philosophy of 7 generations ahead thought and action. Quaint, ridiculous in this day and age, and the only proper way to live.

PS Took me a while to find the quote. From a head honcho Phd at the life sciences dept. at Cal Tech back in the 70's:
"If the present environmental destruction of the planet continues unabated, the next dominant life form will be the cockroach, going solely by mutability and adaptability. This could occur within the next 500 years."

 

[Shrike]

AAt that point, Earth will be a desolate wasteland, and it will be a very long time before it returns to anything resembling equilibrium.

Nihilism is a poor way to view this problem, and really, it is tantamount to little more than educated laziness

Cynicism alone is also be a poor way to view the Earth's problems. While I agree that humans are having a tremendous negative impact on the planet, throwing in the towel on humanity doesn't really bring anything to the table. Observation like these should be tempered with optimism in the hopes that we can also be the solution to the varied problems we've created.

Out of curiosity, how would you define "equilibrium?"

Frank, sorry for the tangent! Thanks for sharing the article. Sadly, you often only need to go to your local pet store to see cases of animal abuse on full display.