Urge Members of the Virginia House Agriculture, Chesapeake & Natural Resources Committee to VOTE NO on Animal Breeding Ban

Virginia SB1125 places a reckless BAN on hybrid propagation of species: 

• By prohibiting intentional breeding of hybrids, the legislation could hinder important conservation programs that depend on hybridization to strengthen gene pools or adapt species for environmental challenges.
• Hybrid species (e.g., certain big cats or birds) are sometimes bred in captivity for conservation or educational purposes, and prohibiting this could harm efforts to preserve species with dwindling populations.

Hand Feeding Prohibition:

• Many species (including hybrids) require bottle feeding or hand rearing due to orphaning, maternal rejection, or health issues. A blanket prohibition without room for professional discretion could jeopardize the survival of young animals.

Potential Loss of Expertise:

• Experienced breeders play a significant role in ensuring the health and survival of these animals. Overregulation risks driving breeders away from the field, potentially leaving a vacuum in knowledge and care practices.

Virginia SB1125 impact on wildlife management, conservation research, and regulatory enforcement is as follows: 

• Impact on Licensed Breeders: The bill could impose additional regulatory burdens on licensed wildlife breeders, potentially hindering their operations and affecting biodiversity conservation efforts.
• Veterinary Discretion: Restricting premature separation to cases of medical necessity with a veterinarian's written order may limit the ability of wildlife managers to make timely decisions in the best interest of animal welfare.
• Hybridization Research Limitations: Prohibiting hybridization, except in accredited facilities, could impede scientific research and conservation programs aimed at understanding genetics and developing resilient wildlife populations.
•  Accreditation Barriers: Requiring Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accreditation for exceptions may exclude competent facilities that contribute to wildlife conservation but lack such certification, thereby limiting collaborative conservation efforts. This will create a monopoly-like situation where only AZA-accredited institutions are legally allowed to engage in critical breeding or research programs. Especially concerning given the fact that AZA has historically aligned with animal rights groups on many issues and pushes legislation that benefits their organizations while disadvantaging private breeders and non-AZA facilities! 
• Enforcement Challenges: Implementing and monitoring these regulations could strain the resources of the Department of Wildlife Resources, diverting attention from other critical conservation activities.
• The ban on hybridization and the prohibition of hand-feeding wildlife pose significant risks to conservation programs. Hybrid breeding is often a critical tool for preserving genetic diversity and adapting species to changing environmental conditions. For example, hybridization has been used in programs to save species like the Florida panther, where genetic mixing with other subspecies was necessary to combat inbreeding.
• Moreover, bottle-feeding or hand-rearing young animals is often the only way to ensure their survival when they are orphaned, rejected by their mothers, or facing health challenges. Prohibiting such practices undercuts the ability of breeders and conservationists to care for vulnerable animals.
• The dangerous precedent set by SB1125 could easily extend to agriculture. If similar restrictions were applied to farming, it could disrupt common practices like bottle-feeding calves, lambs, and kids (young goats). These practices are essential for the survival of orphaned or weak livestock. Eliminating or heavily regulating hand-feeding in agriculture would result in higher mortality rates, reduced productivity, and significant financial losses for farmers.
• Such overreach would devastate Virginia’s rural economy and hinder the state’s agricultural industry, which relies on animal husbandry and practical livestock management.
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• SB1125 poses a direct threat to the livelihoods of breeders, the integrity of conservation programs, and the future of agricultural practices in Virginia. Please click the link below to send your emails directly to each member of the House Agriculture, Chesapeake & Natural Resources Committee where SB2511 will be heard next. 

  Please modify the boiler plate letter to make it your own!