United States Association of Reptile Keepers, Florida

FWC Commission Meeting March 2nd & 3rd

Wednesday, March 02, 2022 8:00 AM | USARK FL (Administrator)

This Wednesday, March 2nd and Thursday, March 3rd will be the next FWC commission meeting at the Tampa Convention Center, Ballroom D, 333 S. Franklin Street, Tampa 33602.

USARK FL would like to encourage everyone to attend this event and invite your friends.

On Wednesday, staff will be proposing rules relating to nonnative species and on Thursday everyone will have an opportunity to speak on items not on the agenda. If you can not attend both days, we recommend you attend Thursday for "items not on the agenda".

Why is it important? This is YOUR opportunity to voice your concerns directly to the commissioners. Although staff makes recommendations for proposed rules to the commissioners, the commissioners have to vote and pass ALL proposed rules. If you don't share your concerns they will never know.

There is power in numbers! Let's show this commission how powerful we are!

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Comments

Wednesday, March 02, 2022 7:35 AM | Lenard M Hughes MD

The outside cage requirements for prohibited species is more than overkill. I have owned reptiles for over 60 years and never had an animal escape from one of my cages. And the double door walk in area is generally reserved for large cats. The thick concrete requirements needs to be modified. I own a non profit reptile research facility. I am a retired surgeon and take extremely excellent care of my animals. I needed one more tegu lizard for my studies but was denied. My cages are strong enough to hold a large cat, concrete is just excessive and expensive.

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Wednesday, March 02, 2022 7:40 AM | Lenard M Hughes MD

I would like to see FWC go back to the permit system, for individuals that meet their criteria and are responsible. The permit system allowed FWC to know where these animals are located, now they will lose control because of undesirables going underground with their reptiles. I found this Impact Division people to be very harsh. They lost 2 of my renewal applications for prohibited species, had to file a third one. Very poorly run department.

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Wednesday, March 02, 2022 7:46 AM | Lenard M Hughes MD

The Commission is punishing everybody for what a few bad individuals have done. Many people love their reptiles as much or more than dogs. I have reptiles that are 28 years old and do not plan on having any of them euthanized. The new laws are excessive and outside requirements need to be revisited. You people are destroying the livelihood of many individuals. I do research and do not bred or sell these animals but they are also my companions. I have no children.

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