Florida's Wildlife Commission will also discuss the below changes to Captive Wild Animals as well as the previously announced Rehab rules. They have not yet drafted the proposed language and Captain Harrison wrote this morning saying, "Drafts of proposed rule text have not been completed. Information will be provided at the June workshops. We will also provide a time frame after the workshops to allow for public comment."
From monitoring the animal users chat rooms I know they are threatening lawsuits against the FWC and state of FL over the new bond requirement. It is important to keep this bond requirement in place as it is the only way to force Class I owners to behave responsibly when they have no other assets for an injured party to attach. I have also been informed that some key staff members at FWC do not believe sanctuaries should be allowed to exist in FL. If the only places in FL who could possess wild animals were places who use and abuse them, then there wouldn't be noisy people like us trying to put an end to it. Please mark your calendars to attend the meeting closest to you and be prepared to speak up for the cats.
DIVISION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT
RULE NO.: RULE TITLE:
68A-6.0011 Possession of Wildlife in Captivity; Permit Requirements.
68A-6.002 Categories of Captive Wildlife.
68A-6.0021 Possession or Transfer of Class I Wildlife as Personal Use Wildlife; Transfer of Wildlife.
68A-6.0022 Possession of Class I, II, or III Wildlife in Captivity: Permit Requirements.
68A-6.0023 General Regulations Governing Possession of Captive Wildlife.
68A-6.0024 Commercialization of Wildlife; Public Contact; Bonding or Financial Responsibility Guarantee.
68A-6.0025 Captive Wildlife Sanctuaries; Retired Performing Wildlife, Identification.
68A-6.003 Facility and Structural Caging Requirement for Class I, II and III Wildlife.
68A-6.004 Standard Caging Requirements for Captive Wildlife.
68A-6.0041 Exceptions to Standard Caging Requirements for Captive Wildlife.
68A-6.005 Transportation Requirements for Wildlife; Caging Requirements for Performing and Non-Performing Animals.
68A-6.007 Possession, Transportation, Exhibition and Caging Venomous Reptiles and Reptiles of Concern.
68A-6.0071 Record Keeping and Reporting Requirements.
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The purpose and effect of this rule development is to address the possession, housing and transportation of captive wildlife. The proposed rules will clarify record keeping, documentation of experience, and housing requirements for the possession of captive wildlife. The proposed rules will address changes in classification of captive wildlife and public contact with captive wildlife. Additionally, the proposed new rule establishes requirements for the operation of captive wildlife sanctuaries.
SUBJECT AREA TO BE ADDRESSED: Subject areas to be covered in the proposed rules include possession, transportation and housing of captive wildlife; public contact with captive wildlife; and captive wildlife sanctuaries.
SPECIFIC AUTHORITY: Art. IV, Sec. 9, Florida Constitution, 372.021, 372.86, 372.88, 372.92, 372.921, 372.922 FS.
LAW IMPLEMENTED: Art. IV, Sec. 9, Florida Constitution, 372.021, 372.16, 372.86, 372.87, 372.88, 372.92, 372.921, 372.922 F.S.
A RULE DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP WILL BE HELD AT THE DATE, TIME, AND PLACE SHOWN BELOW:
DATE AND TIME: June 9, 2008, 7:00 p.m. to 8:45 p.m.
PLACE: South Florida Water Management District, Building B-1 (1st Floor Auditorium), 3301 Gun Club Road, West Palm Beach, FL 33406
DATE AND TIME: June 10, 2008, 7:00 p.m. to 8:45 p.m.
PLACE: State of Florida, Department of Management Services, Joseph D'Alessandro Building (Room 165), 2295 Victoria Avenue, Fort Myers, FL
DATE AND TIME: June 11, 2008, 7:00 p.m. to 8:45 p.m.
PLACE: Kissimmee Civic Center, 201 E. Dakin Avenue, Kissimmee, FL 34741
DATE AND TIME: June 12, 2008, 7:00 p.m. to 8:45 p.m.
PLACE: Florida Department of Agriculture, Division of Plant Industry (1st Floor Auditorium), 1911 S.W. 34th Street, Gainesville, FL 32608
DATE AND TIME: June 13, 2008, 7:00 p.m. to 8:45 p.m.
PLACE: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Bryant Building, 2nd Floor Auditorium (Room 272), 620 S. Meridian Street, Tallahassee, FL 32399
Pursuant to the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, any person requiring special accommodations to participate in this workshop/meeting is asked to advise the agency at least 5 calendar days before the workshop/meeting by contacting the ADA Coordinator at (850) 488-6411. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact the agency by calling (850) 488-9542.
THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT IS: Captain Linda Harrison, Division of Law Enforcement, Investigations Section, Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 620 South Meridian Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1600, (850) 488-6253.
THE PRELIMINARY TEXT OF THE RULE BEING DEVELOPED IS NOT AVAILABLE.
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For the cats,
Carole Baskin, CEO of Big Cat Rescue
an Educational Sanctuary home
to more than 100 big cats
12802 Easy Street Tampa, FL 33625
813.493.4564 fax 885.4457
http://www.BigCatRescue.org MakeADifference@BigCatRescue.org
Sign our petition to protect tigers from being farmed here:
http://capwiz.com/bigcatrescue/issues/alert/?alertid=9952801&type=CU
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