AR-News: (USA) New York: MUST CALL! NO WILD ANIMALS AS PETS!

[molly]

> Hi All, 
> Thanks to all of your calls and e-mails, the New York State Assembly
> Bill to ban the ownership of exotic animals as pets, A.2684-B, passed
> out the Environmental Conservation Committee last week! 
> Now, we need to take the next step of making sure this bill passes out
> of the Codes Committee.
> Therefore, please contact Speaker Sheldon Silver to urge him to use his
> authority as the leader of the NYS Assembly to urge Assemblymember
> Joseph Lentol to pass Bill A.2684-B out of his Codes Committee ASAP so
> it can be voted on by the entire Assembly.
> Speaker Sheldon Silver: 518 455 3791,
> <mailto:Speaker at assembly.state.ny.us> Speaker at assembly.state.ny.us 
> If anyone has any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me.
> All the best,
> Mary
> INFO ON BILL:
> New York State Assembly Bill, A.2684-B, will put an end to the dangerous
> and inhumane practice of keeping wild animals as pets in New York State.
> 
> Although inherently dangerous and unsuited to live as family pets, many
> "exotic" animals are increasingly available for sale in New York.
> Monkeys, snakes, and other wild animals, pose serious risks to their
> owners as well as to the public at large. Monkeys can carry Herpes B,
> Monkey Pox, and Ebola Virus as well as other diseases readily
> transmittable and potentially fatal to humans. The recent outbreaks of
> Monkey Pox in New Jersey and New York have been traced to the import of
> exotic animals and highlight the need for this legislation.
> A.2684-B would ban keeping exotic animals as pets in New York State. It
> would not effect lawful possession of these animals by zoos, research
> facilities, humane societies, veterinarians and wildlife rehabilitators.
> Nor would it affect lawful farming activities. Those who own exotic
> animals at the time the law takes effect would be permitted to keep them
> provided that they can meet stringent animal care and public safety
> regulations. 
>