proposed gov't reg re microchip dom.animals

[tashak]

Apparently there is a new proposed government regulation to require microchipping all domestic farm animals, including poultry--whether an individual has one goat or two hens or has many for commercial production as opposed to the private personal use.
NAIS.
Supposedly this is on a "voluntary" (at this time) basis in Tennessee.
There's a government website re nais, but I haven't finished reading through it yet, so I'm currently relaying this on the basis of several postings on another garden and homesteading website.
More to come later.
So far it sounds like a "white paper for animals in the US" and if the little I have read so far is true, it may indeed be something we should email/call\wri
te letters in protest to our Congresspeople.
At this point I fail to see how it would protect anyone against disease or benefit anyone except the makers of microchips, government employee jobs, or large scale animal producers or meatpackers. But it would be an additional expense of time and money for petowners, private family users, and small scale producers.
Anyone else have information or comments?

[kabuti]

it is law in lousiana to have horses I.D'd this way & lots of stables were down around neworleans. all but 2or3 surviving horses were united with their owners as a result of I.D. chips as I understand it but I don't care for gov. involvement of this type either.

[flowerpower]

Mommagoose started a thread on this in "Politics of Food". There is a link to the articles in the thread.

[Cliff Timmons]

Cool,

Next, can we micro chip our children and grandchildren? ;)

[rjzatyko@yahoo.com]

hi,it would help if you had some of your stock stolen, to prove that they were your's,but i guess that people can complain about anything that they want to, untill something bad hits them and then they change their mind's about it,but then it would be too late. richard from ky.

[flowerpower]

The option to microchip animals has been around for quite a while. My pot belly pig has one since 1993. She was born during the big pig craze. They were afraid she would be stolen.The lady who owned her paid big bucks at the time. But how many people have their dogs chipped? Maybe if the dog is appearing at Westminster..

[Cliff Timmons]

We just adopted a 7 year old Bloodhound from Denver who has a chip in his ear. At least they told me he did. But if anyone thinks to check for a chip in a hounds ear, it would come back to someone who got rid of him in Co. :D

They think a little differantly in Denver. They had named him Bob. In order for him to live in Missouri, we changed it to Beau. We couldn't have a bunch of Ozarker dogs laughing at his name. :p

[Jodi]

Micro chipping has been around for some time. Threats of doing humans too. This is a continuation of what was proposed for people around Y2K but since people resisted and the huge disaster didn't come as expect it has been on back burner for awhile. 911 changed peoples attitudes. But does giving up freedoms actually protect us and provide freedom in the long run?

The real picture isn't about ID to protect animals. Have have had dogs that were microchipped that saved them from being lab animals when they were attempted to be sold to the labs. Tattoos and microchips aren't uncommon. Tattoos are easy to cut off most animals. . .when people want something selfishly they don't think about what they are doing to other people nor the animals. Microchipping has to be done in a certain way or you can "loose" them in or out of the animal even after being read within the animal immediately following insertion.

This is more like a controlling experiment. Lets see if we can gain control through animal ID. . .and make money. And are we humans to be next? We could be. Things up for Y2K even gave the possibilities of people not being able to cross state, and sometimes county lines without proper ID. Same thing here.

This is a violation of four constitutional ammendements. . I, IV, X and XIV. Religious rights are violated. Our rights against unreasonable search and seizure. The list goes on!

If any of your animals have had blood work done at a lab besides your local veterinary clinic you and your property are already in the system. If you volunteered to be in the government Scrapies program you are already in the system; it would be whether or not your animals have the "correct" ID for this system yet. If you receive a letter from a University or state for projects being done, etc. a response to this is a sure why to make sure you are put on the list. Not that other good things can acquire through this. . .but it is a way to make sure you don't get through the cracks.

It also isn't balanced. The big breeders or slaughter places, at least for chickens, don't have to have but one number for everyone no matter what. However the small people, even if you just have a couple birds, you must have an ID for every single bird.

All of this is costly. Some areas don't even have a Reader to be able to read the ID so that means if you want to make sure you are "ok" and properly identified your animal you much have your own Reader. . .several hundred dollars minimum at this time.

This has several phases. First to register ALL private property where livestock (possibly any animals) are kept. The property will be given a premises ID number that will permanently stay with the property through Global Positioning Satellite (GPS; GPS is on almost all new vehicles by the way). This satellite will monitor your property. Every animal will be required to have an ID tag or microchip (this is still being argued) in it or attached to it. Current push "by USDA and Digital Angel Corperation is radio Frequency Identification Devices (RCID)." (taken from Ruminations, The USDA's Best Kept Secret Just Might Stop YOu from Owning Livestock, by Barbara Halligain). This can be read long distances. And because of these reading devices your animals and property, which also means you, will be monitoring everything providing details of all livestock movement. You would have 24 hours to notify the proper "authorities" of your actions or you could be fined for your neglect to do so.

they will know that you left, may know where you went, and also what laws would apply in the areas that you have been visiting to see if you are up on all legalities.

I'm not against general microchipping. NAIS. . . control, that is another story!

Remember this is all under the guise of Mad Cow and Avian Flu protection.

Just a little more of the picture. . .
:(

And of course if you choose to take action. . . here are a couple to check out:
www.nonais.org
www.stopanimalid.org

[mrtomatoexpres]

cliff you did not get yours yet i got mine today. next will be all our veggie plants. iam waiting for tha mayor and gov. to tax veggie gardens :eek: :( :mad:

[HOD]

King George learned the hard way back in 1776...... History has this funny way of repeating itself.

Hod.

[redbrick]

Hey, HOD, it's about time you got your own user name! I think you've been borrowing DUN's more than she's been using it! LOL! :D

[dirtundernails]

Yeah, it took a bit. Wifey thought it would be cool if I was number 1000. :)

hod.

Dagnabit, wife was logged in! Didn't get to post as me!

[HOD]

There! now I am me.

Lets see if the same thing happens to her! :p

[Lilyroseviolet]

I understand that if youhave lots of chickens ( over 1.000 ? that you do not have to have the micro chips inserted....its only the domestic farmers.
of course this has not been passed and is just talk.

[wilderness1989]

FYI - Here's what one of my Senators had to say in response to my letter.
Dear John:

Thank you for contacting me about the National Animal Identification System (NAIS). I have asked ranking officials in the Agriculture Department about your concerns. As citizens and legislators, we must closely examine any proposed government regulations which intrude on our privacy and raise the costs of business or hobbies. I understand your objections and the burden that compliance with the NAIS may place on small operators.

The NAIS is meant to help track the spread of animal diseases or zoonotic illneses so that public health officials can better respond to them. If not contained quickly, these diseases can kill many animals and humans as well. Avian flu, carried and transmitted mostly by poultry, is perhaps the most significant infectious disease threat that America and the world face today. No cases of avian flu have been reported in America yet, but we must remain vigilant in case this disease reaches our shores. A national tracking system is an important part of our Avian flu defense.

I agree that the Animal ID program, however, must also firmly safeguard privacy and should emphasize disease tracking. While I do not serve on the Agriculture Committee, which has jurisdiction over the NAIS, I will keep your concerns in mind if this matter comes before the full Senate for consideration. You also can be sure that I will work to ensure privacy safeguards in my communications with the Department of Agriculture on this issue.

I appreciate your taking the time to write, and I hope you will continue to communicate with me during my time as your United States Senator.


Sincerely,

Barack Obama
United States Senator

[Lilyroseviolet]

I dont see how a micro chip can determine if an animal is ill or a virus carrier. It seems more government control. It just sounds like more paper work and fees to pay.

Thank you for sharing the letter, it was nice to see a government offical take such time to address your concern.

[zebraman]

Hey Wilderness1989;You should Thank him for the "Hand Job"!