• Posted 12/19/2024.
    =====================

    I am still waiting on my developer to finish up on the Classifieds Control Panel so I can use it to encourage members into becoming paying members. Google Adsense has become a real burden on the viewing of this site, but honestly it is the ONLY source of income now that keeps it afloat. I tried offering disabling the ads being viewed by paying members, but apparently that is not enough incentive. Quite frankly, Google Adsense has dropped down to where it barely brings in enough daily to match even a single paid member per day. But it still gets the bills paid. But at what cost?

    So even without the classifieds control panel being complete, I believe I am going to have to disable those Google ads completely and likely disable some options here that have been free since going to the new platform. Like classified ad bumping, member name changes, and anything else I can use to encourage this site to be supported by the members instead of the Google Adsense ads.

    But there is risk involved. I will not pay out of pocket for very long during this last ditch experimental effort. If I find that the membership does not want to support this site with memberships, then I cannot support your being able to post your classified ads here for free. No, I am not intending to start charging for your posting ads here. I will just shut the site down and that will be it. I will be done with FaunaClassifieds. I certainly don't need this, and can live the rest of my life just fine without it. If I see that no one else really wants it to survive neither, then so be it. It goes away and you all can just go elsewhere to advertise your animals and merchandise.

    Not sure when this will take place, and I don't intend to give any further warning concerning the disabling of the Google Adsense. Just as there probably won't be any warning if I decide to close down this site. You will just come here and there will be some sort of message that the site is gone, and you have a nice day.

    I have been trying to make a go of this site for a very long time. And quite frankly, I am just tired of trying. I had hoped that enough people would be willing to help me help you all have a free outlet to offer your stuff for sale. But every year I see less and less people coming to this site, much less supporting it financially. That is fine. I tried. I retired the SerpenCo business about 14 years ago, so retiring out of this business completely is not that big if a step for me, nor will it be especially painful to do. When I was in Thailand, I did not check in here for three weeks. I didn't miss it even a little bit. So if you all want it to remain, it will be in your hands. I really don't care either way.

    =====================
    Some people have indicated that finding the method to contribute is rather difficult. And I have to admit, that it is not all that obvious. So to help, here is a thread to help as a quide. How to become a contributing member of FaunaClassifieds.

    And for the record, I will be shutting down the Google Adsense ads on January 1, 2025.
  • Responding to email notices you receive.
    **************************************************
    In short, DON'T! Email notices are to ONLY alert you of a reply to your private message or your ad on this site. Replying to the email just wastes your time as it goes NOWHERE, and probably pisses off the person you thought you replied to when they think you just ignored them. So instead of complaining to me about your messages not being replied to from this site via email, please READ that email notice that plainly states what you need to do in order to reply to who you are trying to converse with.

USARK Alert - Lacey Act Amendment SB 626

bcr229

bcr229

Snakes Are Cool
Staff member
Staff
Endowment
Resident Demon
Joined
Mar 29, 2013
Messages
3,468
Reaction score
365
Points
83
Location
Inwood, WV USA
https://usark.org/2021-lacey/

ALERT: Lacey Act Amendment 2021
Mar 12, 2021 | USARK Newsletter

U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-Florida) has introduced Senate Bill 626 (S626). This is a bill that would reverse the USARK federal lawsuit victory by reinstating the ban on interstate transportation of species listed as injurious under the Lacey Act. While the text has not been posted, the bill title clearly states the intent: A bill to amend title 18, United States Code, to enhance protections against the importation, and transport between States, of injurious species, and for other purposes.

In our landmark court decision, four federal judges agreed that USARK was correct and that the Lacey Act (Title 18 Section 42) did not ban interstate transportation of injurious species based on the original language of the Lacey Act and the intent of Congress. As a result of this fight for our members and the herpetocultural community, this meant animals domestically bred under human care could be moved and sold across state lines (within the continental United States). For herpetoculturists’ concerns, this included a few species of constrictor snakes and a long list of salamanders. The bill may also contain an “emergency designation” authority for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to list species as injurious under the Lacey Act.

Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) is a co-sponsor. S626 has been assigned to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.

We will post additional information soon.
 
Ive been saying this for years FWC is NOT after "reasonable laws and restrictions" They want to criminalize almost every aspect of the reptile/amphibian hobby.
 
Likely FL and HI likely want an easier way to get USFWS involved in their state affairs, and are short-sighted enough that they don't care that this is a baby-with-the-bathwater way to do that.

It is too bad that it is something as misguided as this legislation that brings the Montagues and Capulets together on something.
 
It's disappointing that this thread isn't more active.
This could virtually end interstate transportation of herps in the U.S. if it passes.
https://usark.org/2021-lacey/
Every amphibian/reptile keeper in the country should be concerned enough to write a letter to this committee. They should also be supporting USARK with membership and/or donations.
 
You can use https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/117/s626 to monitor progress on this bill. Fortunately it's in the early stage so there is time to oppose it.

The sponsor and co-sponsor are from Florida and Hawaii, two states that are the most vulnerable to the introduction of non-native invasive species. When contacting your legislators you can point out that these states can create their own laws regarding injurious species, and that violations of those state laws would be covered under the Federal Lacey Act already if the species were shipped into the state, so there is no need to muck further with the federal law.
 
The wording is out. Not enough people are paying attention to this. This is broadranging and extends to all herps,fish,crustaceans wild birds and wild mammals.
 
It's as if the agricultural industry is playing a game of "better you than me" with us citizens lol
 
Done, it's easy to contact your Senators. A quick google search should get you to their official website where you can easily use a secure form to send an email. Here's what I sent to my State's senators, feel free to use or edit as you would like:


I'm writing in opposition to S.626 Lacey Act amendment.

I would like to see a no vote on S.626 on the basis that it involves the Federal government in actions which are better handled at the state and local levels. Additionally, this act would be detrimental to conservation efforts by breeders to build and maintain viable populations through captive breeding efforts .

Sincerely,

CA links:

--Feinstein
https://www.feinstein.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/e-mail-me


--Padilla - scroll down a bit
https://www.padilla.senate.gov/

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top