I'd just like to throw my few dollars into this topic...
Being a NYer...times are ever-tough...taxes on a 10% rise again and just really really stupid legislation. As some may know (or not) all large constrictors, monitors, crocodillians and venomous are banned in NY.
There are exceptions. Crocodillians are allowed to be owned as long as you obtain the proper license, the "Threatened and Endangered Species" license. You get one license per animal, if you'd like a gator and say, a siamese croc...you'd need 2 licenses. Though once you initially get it, it's just "adding" it on really.
Venomous was the same. They are not accepting new applicants at this time...which is stupid, but what can ya do?
Anything large is straight BANNED. They are working on permits but it is now the 4th year and nothing new has come out of them.
Now, a permit system, for NY at least, is there for 2 reasons: To deter impulse buyers and to monitor numbers of these animals in the state. According to Joe, who is head of the special licensing unit for NY DEC, "We're not trying to stop people from owning these animals but to track the numbers in our state and know what were dealing with in state."
I see micro-chipping as a means of protecting your animal and your investment. The government, and I speak solely for NY, is not trying to keep tabs on anyone. In fact, with a license, one is allowed to house a crocodillian in a giant enclosure next to the road. As long as it is on your property, safely enclosed and obviously, having the PROPER enclosure...no one can petition against it (well, win at least) and no one can cause any problems for you.
I can see micro-chipping saving a lot for anyone who had an animal stolen, it could help a lot. In the case of the previous story on here, it REALLY worked out for him.
Passing an ALL MICROCHIP law, requiring all snakes (or herps) needing it would be quite impossible to pass. Like what Donnie had stated, what does one do with 30-40 retic hatchlings? Or worse, a BIG retic laying 80 eggs? Expensive indeed, that would most likely break anyone's wallet...unless you're Ralph Davis, Bob Clark, Brian BHB etc...and even then, they would be losing A LOT of liquid profit because of it. In a business sense, it would not pass, especially with the economic crisis in the US right now. That is my opinion at least. Maybe getting them microchipped by a certain age would be more accesible for the everyday dude or the business man...but you're still looking at a lot of money people don't have. And if enforced properly people would be more prone to not getting the animal...or having as many. This would make stock be held on to by breeders and they'd still face the high cash amount of chipping the animals. Would it make more responsible keepers, and keepers who know their limits? Maybe...
I mean, if I had to chip my animals just because the government said so...you bet your ass I would, if it meant keeping them or losing them. I think the reality of things is that there is no way to properly enforce this or monitor it. Monetary reasons alone would probably cause an uprising of small business owners or the big breeders to lash out against any legislation heeding such requirements. Then getting a country wide law passed would be even tougher, as every state has their own laws on specific animals. Not to mention, how about all the animals imported into the country...whether officially documented via CITES or not. Someone is going to chip them at every delivery location? Unfortunately not enough people really care enough I think.
I am not against it, in fact I'm for it. I don't believe my animals are in any danger of being stolen, nor getting lost. They're locked up in a room, in their cages. They are never put in a position to really get stolen either. Chipping, I believe wouldn't really benefit me much at all. But as others have said it's a very "responsible" thing to do and definitely makes you look a bit more professional (in a sense).
Good thread, for suuuuuuuure Jess.
