Yes, have you?

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You are wanting to see campaigns in this order:

Retail Aid 3
Tomorrow Keepers 5
Focas on Unification 1
Vendors UK 4
Lobbying the Opposition/Worthy of Investigation 10
Focus On Society 2
European Protected Species 6
Skunk Descenting 7
Private Keepers' Licence 8
Primates & Keepers Rights 9

R
PKL

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Its interesting to see these results.

The general theme is education to private keepers and Retailer aid.

These are linked to each other in many ways.

As are societies and education and tommorows keepers

I belive all the options are fully viable, but if we work smart, addressing one will lead into the next, thus making the overall goal more acheivable.

I know I have spoken to Rory about different ideas, and I think we are almost there with the ideas, putting into practice may be more tricky.

Societies are a difficult area, yes they do seem closed to ideas (in some cases) but lets face it if they didnt work, they wouldnt be around.

My own society is very isolated yet we get good attendance each month, and everyone has a great time and are learning all the time. Is there more that we can do as a society to promote our hobby, Yes, most certainly, and thats being looked at as we speak, as a direct result of Rory and his first posts !

Retailers are generally doing a good job, yes, some need to pull thier socks up, but others are getting to grips with things and well done to them. However, any retail aid will have to be backed by knowledgable sources with in the industry or they will just be seen as more 'restrictions'

We already see from this forum the amount of differences there are between different keepers for the same species, how can we hope to provide education to tommorrows keepers if we spend more time disagreeing with ourselves.

Basicly, I belive unification is the way forward to all these issues. Good basic agreement held under the banner of one united body. That body will of course be made up from many areas, and as such will be able to advise 'recommended practice' .

It would also be a force to be reckoned with within whitehall, and have a voice louder than ever before in the industry, simply because its US, united with all the other groups, agreeing on the way forward, in a clear pratical way. Its US putting forward our own policy, its US cleaning up our own house.

I know many will disagree with me, and thats thier right, we are currently free to express that. We all have our own areas of interest that matter to us more than other areas.

I simply belive with out a good foundation, we have nothing.

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This would be my top priority too .... excellent post ratboy.

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The Retail Aid administration is aimed at the introduction of this in addition to other aspects.

Its one thing to establish educational material, its another to have it recognised.

I think that if we were to have it recognised this would be a major step forwards.

But as you know Ratboy, you and l have discussed this on a couple of other forums not forgetting other discussions we have held in the past concerning this content also.

In response to the other note, whether campaigning directly against the opposition or indirectly.

Anything that is seen coming from the pro side to keeping will be noted as lobbying, you must remember that the antis view us as a niche group who appear not to have any voice, nor motivation into improving things.

To date nothing , 'nothing' has been significantly done to achieve anything in this direction, whether this be apathy, ignorance or a general 'can not be bothered syndrome' l don't know.

I am not talking of what the individual or independant may provide to better themselves or their business, l am talking from the political side to pro keeping, finances have been secured to what campaigns?

Or better still what funding do we have for campaigns?

If we were to have funds, then perhaps campaigns could have been raised, but we simply do not.

We must raise the finances independantly if we want to greatly achieve results.

R
PKL

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Has the lowest vote.

There would perhaps be a few on this forum that may well keep primates.

Many of the readers here probably do not, many probably feel they should not be kept in private captivity, and to a small degree you would be right.

Is a ban an answer?

NO.

Is tighter control and restriction on future ownership the answer?

YES.

If they are banned, you must ask yourself this one question.

What next?

primates are considered a 'politically sensitive species' as indeed are specialist cat species. But then so are DWAL covered animals, and also, let us not forget the EPS species, now they are too a politically sensitive species.......now. Last year they were not.

But what could be classed as politically sensitive in the new year?

Skunks perhaps, there are in the region of roughly 700 skunks in the UK at present, it could be a higher figure. What proportion of those are descented? 90%?

We do believe that this campaign is worthy as do many other skunk keepers.

Just because they are not to be descented legally, do you think this will stop the cutting?

Of course not! Except instead of it being performed professionally it will be done without clinical support.

The fact is that many of these campaigns are aimed at politically sensitive species.

Unification, means bringing everyone together fighting for the same cause - to prevent bannings and restrictions in our futures. This means that whether you are reptile keeper or an mammal keeper, you may have differing opinions of what should be kept and how, but as you are both keepers - fight for the end result, not the current state of play.

I keep a skunk, you keep a primate, l may not agree with you nor you of l, but together we will fight for our rights to keep what we choose to keep. As long as our husbandry is sound, and our animals are cared for, loved, kept safe, are we wrong?

R
PKL

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I voted for 3, because the amount of shops I have seen, or heard about, that don't give the animals even the most basic requirements is shocking.

If the shops were educated, they in turn would educate the buyers. Of course this wouldn't have a blanket effect, as there are plently of private sellers, and cowboy shops. However I think it would have a positive impact.

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Vendors Uk, looks into the number of differing selling facilities and sellers we have in the UK that are doing damage to the market.

I want TSKA to be licenced as either an internet or landbased seller or indeed both.

My fear and many of you will know is that l disapproved of primates coming off the dwal. Lets be honest there were undoubtedly many keepers out there that held dwal primates with no licence, now they are legal to hold those same primates with no licence. Then they would also have sold to non licenced holders and now its 'okay' to do so.

But in this one market alone, primates bothers me, they are politically sensitive and just how many sellers out there do more damage to this market place by not being concerned about what happens to the primates, or for that matter where they go, traceability?

My posts on primates may inflame some keepers, if you feel guilt or annoyance at this - tough - more responsibility needs to be adhered to , not just on this species but on all species.

Our market is way too disposable and commercial now, everything is too easy, and selling is one of them.

Licenced sellers is the way forwards, this alone may inflame many reptile sellers, whom are unlicenced now, as well as inflame hobbyists who sell at shows, would, should, could this affect you - yes.

At present the good, responsible sellers are too few, they are unregulated, 'cowboy' to coign E/Lizz'ds own post.

If we want to stabilise the market we must tow the rope and be seen to be responsible. There should be more support to retailers, better relationships between the market and the market place.

Improved selling conditions, codes of conduct [yes where the hell are they???], all these issues and topics need to be addressed correctly.

Do the unregulated sellers really give a damn? Its a retailers job, to make sure that the best image is highlighted to the buyer, their reputation rests on that ability to sell the educational aspect to a potential keeper, novice or experienced veteran.

Retail Aid: Flagship Administration is designed at improving the impact that retailers have on their buyers, but in the same breath, it is designed in supporting the retailer.

R
PKL

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What is slightly alarming - even with the low polling numbers present here, is the fact that Focus on Society, a campaign within the Focas on unification campaign but aimed at increasing society membershipis very low?

Is there so little faith in Societies in general?

R

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