Date: Wed, 21 Dec 2005 19:41:48 -0000 From: "snugbunrabbitry" <snugbunrabbitry@xxxxxxxxx> Subject: National Animal Identification System I recognize that the NAIS is not breed-specific legislation in and of itself, but it is an extremely important issue at this point in time and I thought I would share it with the group. -------------------------------------------------------- Greetings, everyone. I am writing in order to share with you some information about the National Animal Identification System, or NAIS. The government- backed NAIS is a plan to monitor and track the majority of our country's domesticated animals. At this point in time, cats, dogs, and household pet birds and rodents do not seem to be affected - but all of the others do. They wish to monitor and track sheep, goats, donkeys, rabbits, deer, alpacas, pigs, chickens, and other varieties of poultry, and that's just a start. This is a terrible breach of privacy, requiring that one not only register their animals with the government, but also their location, down to a nifty little GPS position. There is talk of tagging or microchipping the animals, as well. At this point in time, participation is optional - and free - but they are slating January 2008 as the start date for when it becomes mandatory. They will also be implementing a cost, and hefty fines for failing to comply. This does not just apply to the commercial raisers of these animals, but those who raise them for hobby and home consumption, as well as those who keep them as pets. To the government, it doesn't matter if you've got 10,000 chickens, or one pony - you must be regulated. There is an excellent article pertaining to just what the NAIS entails, at http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0511/S00146.htm - it sums it up quite well. We still have time to fight this legislation, and fight it we must. There is a grassroots movement that has just recently been started, and you can visit the forum at http://stopanimalid.org/forum/index.php - we are currently in the process of organizing volunteers to help create flyer designs that can be posted on the website in order for everyone to distribute them to feed stores and other locales, as well as a gathering of information and suggestions for writing to local, state, and federal officials. A good form letter for this purpose can also be found at http://www.homesteadingtoday.com/showthread.php?t=102231 - it is a good basis for starting your own letter. Feel free to add points that are relevant to your situation, or simply to address your concerns. In order to defeat this legislation - or at least create an exemption for the small farmer, hobby breeder, and pet owner - we need to work fast. We need every hand and word that we can get. We need YOU. -Hannah (username HSherlock at the forum) SnugBun Rabbitry (French Lops and Harlequins) Lake Effect Rattery Anja Heibloem-Stroud www.pet-net.net/hausmekon/ ============================================================================ POST is Copyrighted 2005. All material remains the property of the original author and of GSD Communication, Inc. NO REPRODUCTIONS or FORWARDS of any kind are permitted without prior permission of the original author AND of the Showgsd-l Management. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ALL PERSONS ARE ON NOTICE THAT THE FORWARDING, REPRODUCTION OR USE IN ANY MANNER OF ANY MATERIAL WHICH APPEARS ON SHOWGSD-L WITHOUT THE EXPRESS PERMISSION OF ALL PARTIES TO THE POST AND THE LIST MANAGEMENT IS EXPRESSLY FORBIDDEN, AND IS A VIOLATION OF LAW. VIOLATORS OF THIS PROHIBITION WILL BE PROSECUTED. For assistance, please contact the List Management at admin@xxxxxxxxxxxx VISIT OUR WEBSITE - http://www.showgsd.org ============================================================================