Alabamians, and Americans in general, have a long history of adopting native animals into their homes as companions. Raccoons, opossums, skunks and foxes are especially popular and have a history as pets dating back to even the pre colonial era. These animals have even made their way into the Whitehouse when 1920's president Calvin Coolidge famously pardoned and adopted the nationally celebrated "Rebecca" raccoon who lived on whitehouse grounds for the duration of his presidency.

Today, it is currently illegal to possess any of these animals in a private residence, and getting caught can result in criminal charges for the owner, as well as mandatory euthanasia and necropsy for the animal. Many Alabama residents are unaware of this, and some choose to adopt these animals. This often results in state officials showing up at their homes and seizing their beloved companions, taking them away from their loving families to be killed.

The law as it stands negatively impacts not only native pet owners, but Alabama's communities and wildlife areas at large. Because they are illegal to possess, these animals cannot receive proper veterinary care and often go unvaccinated, and those that are aware of the law often release the tame animals into the wild, subjecting them to an environment they are woefully unprepared for.

My proposal is to legalize the possession, transportation, and providing of veterinary care to these species. This will allow Alabamians to legally and responsibly obtain "exotic" pets without any of the risks associated with non native exotics that are currently legal to own and facilitate the formation of a strong network of accessable educational and tangible resources, as is the case with currently legal pets. Such legislation will also provide opportunities for economic growth as industries catering to the care and enrichment of these pets capitalize on the needs of their owners.

To address possible concerns of the general public, it's important to understand these points:

1. These animals do not "carry" rabies. An animal infected with the virus will die, generally in a few days to a week after developing symptoms, and is not contagious during the approximately two week incubation period.
2. An animal cannot contract rabies unless it is in direct contact and exchanges bodily fluids with a symptomatic rabid animal, so a pet raccoon, fox, etc, will be at no greater risk of contracting or spreading rabies than an average house cat.
3. These animals are not aggressive or dangerous to humans when raised in captivity and are celebrated as excellent pets in areas where they are legal to possess.
4. These animals, when raised in captivity are not "wild". They are pets, not prisoners, and do not long for freedom. A tame animal, when released into the wild, is likely to die in short order because it does not have the skills necessary to survive. Wild life is hard, short, and a daily struggle for even the most well adapted animals.
5. These animals are extremely common. Thousands are killed every year by hunters, exterminators, and dogs. As such, owning them as pets will have no negative impact on the environment as they are not in any way endangered and cannot be invasive as they are naturally present in the environment already.

In closing, I ask that you sign and share this petition and contact your local representatives in support of this movement. These animals deserve our love and respect and offer tremendous value as loving companions. For those that admire these fascinating animals for more than their fur, meat, or as a subject of observation in their daily struggles in the wild, the opportunity to own and care for one means many years of incomprehensible joy. Thank you.