Crud! I have been snared in the net of NAIS...

[MarkR]

Well. . . who wouldn't want a hot tub, really?

 

[Rosalind]

Well, it's a little-known part of law, but in the event of public health emergencies (e.g., the 1918 influenza epidemic, Mary Mallon, the 1989 Reston VA Ebola outbreak, 2001-2 anthrax attacks), be they human or veterinary, your Constitutional rights are suspended. There's really no country that does not do such things, either. The gov't can inspect, quarantine, or do whatever else they deem necessary to halt the spread of disease. Generally they use voluntary measures first, but if that doesn't work....

Having seen some of the antics folks get up to when there is a real threat of deadly disease, I am in favor of keeping this exception. Honestly, I've seen it more under-used rather than abused, because people tend to panic when they are informed, however nicely, that there is a disease they need to be concerned about. Panic is practically a recipe for spreading the really nasty diseases.

 

[speckledhen]

I am aware of that and have seen the laws as written. Pretty frightening, actually, and the potential for abuse sends shivers down my spine. The gov't claims the right to take over farms, confiscate livestock, etc, the list is very long and disturbing. To keep this on track, the NAIS registration sure makes it easier to run down the list taking over farms, homes, etc, in an event, real or faked.

 

[kstaven]

That little known law was highly abused in canada. If you go back a few years on the Influenza outbreak at a commercial chicken farm in the Fraser Valley. NOT H5N1 at all, and just a more common strain. They walked in and culled everything throughout the valley. No testing and no quarantine was done on any flock before they where killed. Wiped out the lively hood of many without a thought and without compensation to any but the commercial operation.

 

[speckledhen]

What you just described is exactly what we are all concerned about here with this NAIS still in the works. So, not paranoia at all, when here you have an historic example of just what we fear.

 

[kstaven]

I personally know of a few cases where pet parrots where culled as a PRECAUTIONARY measure in that mess. They are trying for a NAIS type format in Canada also. Hiding under the National Animal Health Strategy umbrella.

 

[SpottedCrow]

I had a customer at the petshop where I work actually ask me about Bird flu from a canary...

Since it doesn't get out and fly around, you're probably NOT gonna get bird flu from a canary, you idiot...

The only times it's outside is from the farm to the plane, the plane to the car, the car to the store, and the store to it's new home...and it will be inside a box for all that time...

 

[kstaven]

Public hysteria rules over common sense and facts these days. The second problem is people don't really READ what is in the media and question it.