DWA without a licence

[slippery42]

I think many of us are in agreement that the licence is a way of detering people from keeping "hots".

It amazes me how many people still seem to concentrate on the actual cost of the licence application fee rather than all the associated costs.

For example my LA charge a little over £100 for the licence application but insist on using the well known international vet for inspection. He does his homework on the applicant before he even arrives.

This vet is obviously highly experienced in inspecting zoos and individuals for the various criteria and he does not come cheap and the applicant has to pay for his entire day!

That added to the licence fee, insurance, security etc etc means big bucks!

Whilst the whole DWAL think is far from perfect it may well deter some form going down a route that is not for them.

[ian14]

Originally Posted by mythicdawn07

im sorry but you make no sense what so ever, a piece of paper does not protect the public the keeper does, and i think if a liscense holders pet got out and killed someone that would be worse for the hobby then someone who doesnt own a liscense. mainly because people would be fighting to get the animals banned from everyone instead of fighting to get the guy without a liscence locked up.

like has been stated a HUNDRED times, paper doesnt make anyone a good owner.

In a way you are right in that a piece of paper does not protect the public, but this goes to show that you really don't know what you are talking about.
The way you get that peice of paper is through a council inspection to ensure that you have the necessary security to safely house such animals. That is what the inspection is for, not to see if you know how to keep the animal, but that you can keepit securely. That way, the public ARE protected. So in this case, a bit of paper does protect the public.

[MJ75]

Originally Posted by mythicdawn07

if you read some of my previous posts you would see that im all for the liscence just not how you obtain one, but people are kidding themselves if they think the yearly fee is for anything other then more money for the guy sat in the chair.

I think you should have to undergo some kind of exam to test your knowledge, then pay a SMALL fee for the liscence and a SMALL fee every 2-3 year to renew the liscence and the inspection to make sure everythings in order.

and the point i was trying to make before is that just because someone doesnt have a liscence doesnt mean hes going to drop DWA scorps in your socks.

I've read you posts and I see what you're trying to say. But it comes across as if you've not grasped why the current system exists. If what the OP says is true and I have no reason to doubt that it isn't then it's not about "dropping a scorp in your socks". Sometimes people need protecting from themselves.

There are pics on this very forum of people who have been tagges by hots so be under no illusion, people who keep DWA do occasionally get bitten. It's hard to have any real sympathy for them, but it's their choice to keep them.

I think it should be "challenging" for people to obtain a DWAL. At the end of the day people should be allowed to keep them. But making it tough for people to obtain will sort out the people who are serious about it from those buying on a whim. If you scrapped the DWA or made it easy to obtain (Either by lowering the cost or other means) you'd end up with all kinds of fools wanting a venemous snake. Deluded by thinking their 7 years of boa handling makes them an expert even though they probably have no experience of a venemous snake etc.

[mythicdawn07]

Originally Posted by MJ75

I've read you posts and I see what you're trying to say. But it comes across as if you've not grasped why the current system exists. If what the OP says is true and I have no reason to doubt that it isn't then it's not about "dropping a scorp in your socks". Sometimes people need protecting from themselves.

There are pics on this very forum of people who have been tagges by hots so be under no illusion, people who keep DWA do occasionally get bitten. It's hard to have any real sympathy for them, but it's their choice to keep them.

I think it should be "challenging" for people to obtain a DWAL. At the end of the day people should be allowed to keep them. But making it tough for people to obtain will sort out the people who are serious about it from those buying on a whim. If you scrapped the DWA or made it easy to obtain (Either by lowering the cost or other means) you'd end up with all kinds of fools wanting a venemous snake. Deluded by thinking their 7 years of boa handling makes them an expert even though they probably have no experience of a venemous snake etc.

i agree it should be challenging but having to pay big sums of money will only create more people keeping DWA without a liscence. as for the 'tests' it could be a standard test for what you want to keep, e.g. venemous snakes, spiders etc. sure anyone can learn and study for a test and thats a good thing because then they will have the knowledge they need to keep them and have to prove that knowledge.

even if it was simple questions like what to do if one escapes or someone gets bitten etc.

[Owzy]

Originally Posted by mythicdawn07

i agree it should be challenging but having to pay big sums of money will only create more people keeping DWA without a liscence. as for the 'tests' it could be a standard test for what you want to keep, e.g. venemous snakes, spiders etc. sure anyone can learn and study for a test and thats a good thing because then they will have the knowledge they need to keep them and have to prove that knowledge.

even if it was simple questions like what to do if one escapes or someone gets bitten etc.

Have you read this VVVVV.

Originally Posted by Azemiops

Why could you not pay a small fee every year, why every 2-3 years? What is deemed as a small fee? I only pay £90 a year for my licence which i am happy to do.
How does taking an exam proove that you are capable of dealing with DWA species? My sister could potentially study hard for a 'DWA exam' and pass, but that wouldnt make her anymore capable of working with any of my snakes.
How would this 'exam' reflect on the different levels of snakes? There is a very big jump between keeping say a white-lipped viper and Papuan Taipan, but both can be kept under the same licence. So would a DWA keeper have to take a test that covers them for all species on snake? Or would the council put together exams for individual snakes? Once they have taken this test, could they keep any species that they want? And as many as they like? If the council can only inspect every 2-3 years, how would they ensure that the DWA keeper is not keeping animals that they shouldnt?
Obvisouly, as it currently stands, councils can regulate what species are being kept by doing regular inspections....something that you appear to be against.

If your problem is with the varying costs of councils, then fine. Yes it must be fustrating if your local council charges a ridiculous some of money. However, instead of the councils 'trying to make money and line their pockets' as you are saying, i feel it is much more likely that they are simply trying to put people off obtaining a licence.

[mythicdawn07]

Originally Posted by Owzy

Have you read this VVVVV.

indeed i did thats why i said it should be more of a common knowledge test, Besides a test vs no test is better all around in my opinion, Like thats been said it would make it more challenging to obtain a liscence.

As for using money as a deterrant that's probably the case and i see that really unfair and totally agree with ssssiso (Cant remeber how its spelled lol)

I just hope if i ever decide to get a DWAL they will go about thing's abit differently. (Which they probably will because i dont intend on getting one anytime soon)

[ian14]

Originally Posted by mythicdawn07

indeed i did thats why i said it should be more of a common knowledge test, Besides a test vs no test is better all around in my opinion, Like thats been said it would make it more challenging to obtain a liscence.

As for using money as a deterrant that's probably the case and i see that really unfair and totally agree with ssssiso (Cant remeber how its spelled lol)

I just hope if i ever decide to get a DWAL they will go about thing's abit differently. (Which they probably will because i dont intend on getting one anytime soon)

The problem with a "test" is that someone will have to draw one up, have it quality checked and audited, and mark your results. This will of course cost money and so increase the costs. Not only that, the administration of the Act is not standard through the country, and so until that is changed, then a test is going to at best vary from LA to LA, at worst be non-existant in some.
Added to which, it would be a pointless excercise, as the entire basis of the DWA is to ensure the animals are housed securely in escape-proof enclosures, NOT to test the potential owners knowledge.

[morallywrong]

Originally Posted by mythicdawn07

i agree it should be challenging but having to pay big sums of money will only create more people keeping DWA without a liscence. as for the 'tests' it could be a standard test for what you want to keep, e.g. venemous snakes, spiders etc. sure anyone can learn and study for a test and thats a good thing because then they will have the knowledge they need to keep them and have to prove that knowledge.

even if it was simple questions like what to do if one escapes or someone gets bitten etc.

True, but if it was a standard test, as has been said there are huge differences between different types of 'hot' snakes, and as has also been said, because you can write down how to use a snake hook, doesn't mean you can actually use one.

[paulrimmer69]

after all is said and done though i believe nobody has died in this country from a non native snakebite since the dwa act was brought in? and also no member of the public has been bitten by a non native venomous snake so the current system although it has a few flaws isnt doing its job that badly!

[Gomjaba]

Why do you guys even bother discussing this, seriously.

Let's face it, unless the council has a warrant and comes with the police, they have to announce their visit .. it takes 10 seconds to hide a tub with a DWA animal ..

If it would upset you that much you would have reported him already, plus, you would need to know where he lives in order to ask the correct council ..