Hey I made a post a few days ago about owning a SG in PA. Apparently it is illegal. I am wondering what the best way to go about getting the law changed to allow such pets in PA.

I would like everyone to try and put in thier 2 cents and see if we can do something..

Considering it is a bunch of internet people getting together to do this, I think it would be good if a bunch of people living or have lived in pa and left due to this change.

But i would like any details on doing this... ALso people in high government jobs(cops, EMS, Fire, Docs, and so on) are also strongly encouraged to post. I might wanna interview you and ask your opinions on things with SG's.. In case we actually get this moving forward.. My opinion is that a petition will not work, you need proof of why the law should be changed..

Anyway hit me with your best info..

Have you done a search here at GC on PA laws? There have been many posts about it in the Regs and Laws section. Several times people have made posts like this trying to get something started to get it changed, and many of them have stuck with it for quite a while, but it seems PA lawmakers are very stubborn.

Ya before I started an acct here I looked thru everything here.. I am not sure what to do or where to go.. Maybe a lawyer but I think the 1st think they are going to do is ask for proof that these guys aren't a danger to people or the environment if legalized.

But we can see what happens.

I plan on staying on this for a while.. hopefully till I make some friends or enemies.. either way, I am in it for the long haul.

So hey. 3am where I live and I am scouring the internet to see of I can find anything that specifically states that SG's are illegal in PA..

I have come across a few things of interest..

1st I would like to point out this lady here..
http://pgchallofshame.com/stories/page2.htm
She seemed to have gotten in trouble with the GC here in PA and had a bunch of animals. The ironic thing about this is she had SG's also..

When they came they stated or assumed SG's were not illegal.

shown here what she has.



Anyway I found something else of interest with this lady's case.

The judge sided with here.

http://sybilsden.com/gc/judge.pdf


http://www.api4animals.org/b4a2_exotic_animals_state.php?s=pa



SO, I guess some of us should call some state reps sometime and see what they say.. or the GC..

Anyway I think I am finished for now.... I see what dirt i pull up tomorrow on this.

Actually, gliders are legal in PA as long as they are from PA. You cannot import a glider to the state, though. If you can find a legal breeder in the state, you can legally obtain them from my understanding. Do check with your local government.

I've called the Game Commission and got the firm "SUGAR GLIDERS ARE ILLEGAL" but others have gotten the opposite answer, so big surprise, PA and its laws are inconsistent.

NO, sugar gliders are NOT LEGAL no matter where they come from. The fact is, there are NO legal breeders in PA. In order to be a legal breeder, you need a series of permits from the game commission that are no longer issued or renewed. In the early 90's some breeders THOUGHT they had everything needed, but found out there was still at least one unobtainable permit. This would make ALL breeders within that state illegal.

Just for the the sake of example, even IF there was a legal breeder, by PA law you still are required to have a permit to OWN a sugar glider. Being that they no longer issue the permits, you yourself couldn't own a sugar glider legally even if it did come from a "legal" breeder.

Yes, PA has been very inconsistent in the past. However in recent years, they have been very firm in their answers. Sugar gliders are NOT legal. Unfortunately there are a bunch of websites out there that need updated. Many hopeful PA residents come across them, and "hope for the best".

As I have stated several times on this forum, I have been working with the PA game commission to get sugar gliders out of the state prior to them being put down. It has been extremely hard this year, as there is an increased amount of people getting them just thinking "they won't catch me". Unfortunately it takes ONE person to turn that little gliders life upside down. Just earlier this year there was a mill breeder in PA that sold sugar gliders at a flea market. (of coarse he was only supposed to sell frogs). MANY people got these sugar gliders, and found out a few weeks after wards that they had illegal animals. It has been a huge mess. This situation made the news and the PA game commission was interview. The game commission states clearly, they are NOT legal in PA. (if anyone would like to see the link, just PM me.)

I think if the GC stated they are illegal, shouldn't that be somewhere..

Considering a judge deemed most of what the GC was illegal was in fact not..

I think we a few people from PA contacted state representatives and complained about this issue we would be able to at least see some type of change in this law to actually state they are or they aren't illegal.

::EDIT::

Hey,

I was wondering how Georgia got their illegal SG's legalized?

There usually is something behind on why something happens, exp something going from illegal to legal.

They are not "named" specifically in the law, but do fall under the definition of "exotic wild life".

If I were you, I'd do some research concerning hedgehogs in PA. There has been a lot of drama between the "hedgehog" community and the game commission. (They were/are trying to legalize hedgehogs within the state) I would hate to see the same thing happen with the gliders.

Jennifer is correct....there have been numerous "human interest" stories in the news where people must give their suggies to the game commission as they are considered illegal there....the reason stated is that they are a threat to the natural fauna.....(can't imagine them being a threat to anything as they would never survive a winter if they got loose)....

Jennifer, thank you so much for your knowledge! PA has been less than clear about the legality of sugar gliders for some reason; this is the first time I've received a straight answer from a person knowledgeable on the subject.

so I've been looking over the PGC law on exotic pets and have a question maybe someone more experienced can answer.

I see lots of animals included in the list of exotic, but no suggies. I also see the term "but not limited to". Is there a full list somewhere, or does the PGC get to make up what animals are exotic each week?