JJ, once again your wisdom and "been round the block a time or two" experience came in handy. I did go on the mission to study my Colo statutes after reading your replies.
I made the mistake of calling the Colo Div. of Wildlife....got transfered 4 times....then got HER. You know the type of officer or representative we were talking about in the beginning of this post. Probably green, if not, has an "I'm going to put you in your place for even asking me for information...I'm a CRIME FIGHTER" type. I used to avoid hiring these people for Animal Control when I was director. They tend to reach beyond the scope of their jobs and get the agency in trouble for misquoting law and using "excessive force" albiet verbal (all the more infuriating and embarassing to the agency). The Sherrif's Dept. used to bring an occasional one of my own team to my attention once in a while they were trying to "pull people over with the animal control truck". OH JOY, the EAGER BEAVER wielding power they do not have.....get the walking papers ready.
When I hung up with HER. My old dog self decided to do what I would do if I were in her position and study the law, compare it to the municpal and county, and then talk to the local guys and gals. She stated "You and I will be talking at length and you WILL GO THRU ME, NOT YOUR LOCAL OFFICE ON THIS" Red Flag!!!!!! I took care of myself. I read.
Looks as if Coturnix Quail here are lumped into a list of "unregulated wildlife". Included in the list as an example are the "common goldfish", iguanas, non poisonous frogs and toads, beta fish, psitticine birds such as parrots...you get the jist, pet store animals! Hellooooo
Petco or
Petsmart ring a bell? What do they sell? Are there daily raids on them?
That woman was soooo rude, accusatory and grilling with me. She said she would be sending people to see my currently 3.......THREE Coturnix. She asked where I was getting them from and how to spell it (Coturnix)
.
Hah ha he he. She really must have been invisioning some kind of monster.
I wanted to relate to those who were reading this post and becoming frustrated about laws, rules, regs. I wanted to tell you I have been on BOTH sides of the law re: Animals. We supervisors or Directors, used to despise or at least worry about our staff performing this way.
Dig for and read every thing you can on your state laws. Copy it or save it to your docs. Highlight all lines that refer to your species and keep an "Owners Manual" for yourself, your farm.
This is the entire reason I created the program I did for responsible pet ownership class for my County. People were slapped with a charge and not given resources to do the right thing. The officers were walking away with attitude and the animal owner with a broken heart, frustration, and anger!
I listen to people who have been "busted". I let them vent. I go over the law with them. I tell them how they can get out of this. I ask them to tell me about their experience. I tell them to make an owner's manual and give them a head start by giving them a copy of city and county law. HELP+ UNDERSTANDING +INFORMATION+KINDNESS = EDUCATION and a responsible animal keeper.
I was so frustrated and angry yesterday, and then I remembered why I do what I do.
I always tell my clients to make their "Owner's Manual" on their animals. Any accusations or charges ever thrown their way again. They whip out the ring binder or send the PDF file of the Laws that pertain or justify what they are doing with thier animals. Read it and weep officer OR in most cases NEIGHBOR with bad blood syndrome.
This is my attitude after about 18 years as a Dept. of Ag. investigator.
JJ you are right. Officers can be wrong. They can be a power and control type of personality. They are human . Research your laws folks so you can protect yourself from a fellow human given a shiny thing they wear on their shirt called a badge.
Now where can I upload the Colorado Statute I found for my fellow buddies in Quail?
NOW for the serious ones. The ones JJ keeps, migratory, mallards, and native species that can be released for hunting etc. Those are the regulated ones. My advise is to read until your eyes hurt. Be smarter than those accusing.
Thanks for letting me rant just a bit.
I will go back in my hole and continue building my owners manual.
Man it gets your blood pressure going to be treated so.
Tonya
I feel your pain Blue though. If it helps you can plead ingnorance on having a permit. Heck its half true thats why people are confused now.
