USDA... Going a little too far?

[Bettacreek]

As some of you already know, I've been hunting down some restricted snail species. I've been very careful to make sure that I don't receive any illegally (out of state shipments). Unfortunately, apparantly, the USDA does not follow the age old law of "innocent until proven guilty". I was supposed to receive several small haustrums from another woman in Pennsylvania, who was getting them from another woman in Pennsylvania who bred them. Apparantly, the breeder could not provide proof that they were obtained in Pennsylvania, so all of her snails were confiscated. I honestly FULLY understand these laws and why they're in place. You cannot blame the USDA, they're only doing their job to keep our environment safe. If anyone can be blamed, it's the people who've released them in the past (and even anyone doing it now), and the people who refuse to follow the laws. Unfortunately, there's really no way to prove that you've obtained your snails within your state. You can give names, addresses, email addresses, etc. but when it comes down to it, it's not really proof that your snails are from your state. There are no permits that you can apply for to keep your snails legal. You can do nothing, if they come to your place, and you have these restricted species, expect them to be confiscated. I was so excited that I found snails that were originally obtained and bred in Pennsylvania. Now, apparantly, even when you do everything by the books, you're still at risk for getting your snails taken and euthanized.

I just had to vent. I'm extremely disappointed. If they are going to be this strict, then they need to allow people to get permits for these snails, or just ban the **** things altogether, to prevent people from having their PETS stolen from them when they did everything by the books.

[Damodred]

Sorry to hear that. :( It's really too bad there's no viable method to prove where your snails are from. Good luck in your search.

[Bettacreek]

It's so frustrating. I'm going to give them a call to see if there's a registry or something that can be started or SOMETHING for people who take the long way around and obtain their pets legally and do everything to keep them from escaping or anything similar.

[THE V]

After spending a few dark years working for the USDA I've come to this conclusion.

For every one person who does there job well and is worth the taxpayers money:
There is one person who spends all day staring into space,
There is one person who talks on the phone all day long,
There is one person that was transferred in because of incompetency,
There are three people counting the days to retirement,
There is one over zealous moron with no common sense,
There is one ladder climbing manager with and intelligence slightly above a chimpanzee.
There is one excellent secretary that keeps it all together.
There is one workaholic manager who covers for the rest.

This ratio is almost universal within the agency. I have had it confirmed to me several times by past and current employees of this agency.

The odds of finding somebody who does there job well 3:11. I'm sorry the odds are against you when dealing with them.

BTW I was a statistician for the USDA. I am currently not welcome back. :silly:

I just got done with a battle with the USDA. "You've got to have the documents to ship that international" they said. My reply "The customs service kept all the paperwork when it came in.". Their reply "You have to have the original documents when you ship that international" Sigh....

[Bettacreek]

Lol. Unfortunately, that's probably the statistics for just about every business. :/

[BreellaBlue87]

It happens with reptiles too, it's not just aquarium pets.