Pa Game Comm story


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Here is my story of What We had to go through to get Sybil and Benny
April 2001 We bought Sybil at an exotic animal auction.. At the time I had no idea that a permit was required before an exotic animal was purchased. My plan after I brought Sybil home was to take her to the vet for a check up and to inquire about a permit. It was about a week before I got an appointment.. In the meantime, the Game Commissioner somehow found out that I bought a bear cub. The Game Commission was at the house, and asked about a bear cub, I could have lied, but told them the truth. The game warden proceeded to tell me the Sybil was not legal, because she had not pen or permit. So he took her away. two hours later he called me and said if I want her back, to meet him at the magistrate's office and plead guilty to two citations, I could have her back.. So almost $600.00 dollars later, I had Sybil back. Now, according to the Pa Game Commissioner, I had to have a 12 X 24 X 12H pen built within 30 days. The permit was already applied for though.. Now this pen that HAD to be built right way for Sybil , was not used for months later.. She was way too small to be put in an outside pen by herself. April 2002: I purchased Benny. I called the Game Commissioner and asked what I needed to do to get another cub.. I talked to about 4 or 5 different people there. They all had their own version. Version 1: "You need to apply for a separate permit. Version 2: "you can just go buy the cub, then add it on to your existing permit at renewal time. Version 3: "You need a Bill of Sale, then you can add it on to your permit. Version 4: "you need your pen inspected by the game officer first" Version 5: "You need an importation permit" Version 6" "There is no such thing as a importation permit" Version 7: "You can add any type of animal to your existing permit" So which is it? No one there knows.. It sure sounds to me like they wanted me to make a wrong move, so they can collect more money from me. But, it turned out, the game officer had to come and re-inspect my pen. (An annual inspection was just made by the game commission two weeks before he was notified about the second cub) The first trip he made, he felt it was not sufficient for two young bears.. Guess it was ok for one though! We fixed the minor problems that he found and decided that made the pen inadequate for the housing of two young bears. (Even though he admitted that he knew the second bear was too young to be put in the pen with Sybil) The Third trip (two weeks later) finally passed his inspection.
May 2003: I am trying to get a permit for two domestic baby foxes that I want to purchase. (One is a Silver Fox the other is a Pearl fox) I made the mistake of talking to three different people from the game commission..When reading the "LAW" in the presence of the Game Officer, who admitted that it could be either way we found the section where they claim that you have to have two years experience with the species that you are dealing with, the exact wording states ====================== "(f) Experience required.. A new applicant for an exotic wildlife possession permit shall provide documentation of at least 2 years experience of hand-on work with the designated species. Including care, feeding handling, training and husbandry. This experience shall be from a recognized/approved facility and the owner, manager or licensee of this facility shall provide a letter of reference" ============================= We are NOT new Applicants, as we have had an Exotic Wildlife Possession Permit for over two years.. The law says nothing about a current permit holder. Version 1: "No foxes are allowed in Pa anymore. Version 2: "You need an importation permit" Version 3: "You need to have two years experience with this type of animal first" Version 4: "No red or grey fox is allowed. But, any other type might be ok. In the meantime, They are playing games again, I have been waiting for over two weeks to get a definite answer on this. So by the time I get these foxes, they will no longer be babies, and it makes it that much harder to have them bond to me..
I have read the game commission rules and regulations over and over.. None of them make any sense. They are designed only to suit themselves.. It is very contradicting.

My comment on the Pa Game Commission

The Pa Game Commission has no idea what it is like to raise an exotic animal and they do not know anything at all about them.. Therefore, I believe, they should not regulate any animal that was born in captivity...

Supposedly, by law, the Game Officers are not even permitted to own any type of exotic animal.
This makes as much sense as having someone who has never driven a automobile conducting the test for a driver license.

They can't seem to make up their mind just what animals they think they have control over.
I don't understand why there are some very small animals, such as sugar gliders, chinchillas, etc. that they seem to think they have control over.. Even though these type of small animals are not even mentioned in their rule and regulations. They have also confiscated many of these type animals from people.
Why? what type of harm can a very small animal do?
Is the Game Commissioner that stupid or that greedy?

One supposed reason for making it so tough on people getting exotic animals, is they are dangerous.
Well, what I would like to know is how can a little sugar glider, Hedge hog or chinchillas hurt someone?

Based on my experience, a Rhea (ostrich family) is more aggressive than most exotic animals..
I have seen dangerous steers or bull (banded male cows) than a bear. I have seen aggressive and dangerous pigs. But to think these little tiny animals, foxes, ground hogs, skunks etc.are dangerous....
I don't understand this one..

Ok, so sometimes, the Game Commissioner will say "these animals cannot be indigenous to this state to acquire a permit". But black bears and coyotes are ok, even though they are indigenous to this state. Figure that one out????
When you are dealing with an animal that was born in captivity and raised by a license breeder,
what is the difference? They were not born in the wild. Therefore, it does not make them a wild animal.