Make USDA Regulated Sugar Gliders Legal in PA

It is with sincere interest that we the undersigned request the removal of the captive bred, USDA regulated animal known as the 'sugar glider (Petaurus Breviceps) from the jurisdiction of the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) and placed under the authority/jurisdiction of the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. Currently the PGC has authority over the 'sugar glider under Title 34, Subchapter D, Section 2961-2965 which prevents any citizen of Pennsylvania from owning a sugar glider which is currently legal in 48 of the 50 states, Pennsylvania is 1 of only 2 states in the United States of America still restricting the ownership of this captive bred species.

A similar bill to our request (about domesticated elk) was passed previously, bill No. 1158 Session of 2001 in which removed domesticated elk from the PGC jurisdiction and placed the domesticated elk under the authority of the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.

We call upon the Pennsylvania Legislature to amend the above mentioned law, or prepare a new bill to have domesticated 'sugar gliders' removed from the PGC jurisdiction.

The following reasons we are requesting this change is:

1) The 'sugar glider' (Petaurus breviceps) is regulated by the USDA which has oversight of the breeder and/or the breeding facilities used for breeding and selling of this captive bred species.

2) The 'sugar glider' (Petaurus breviceps) has been domestically bred in the United States for the last 15+ years and is legally obtained as a pet in 48 of the 50 states.

3) The 'sugar glider' (Petaurus breviceps) is a small animal the size of a large hamster that does not require any vaccinations or preventitives such as rabies shots or heartworm medicine, and poses no health threat to humans or any other household pet.

4) The PGC has little or no knowledge at all about the captive born 'sugar glider', including feeding, housing and proper care. (PGC officers are prohibited by law from owning ANY exotic animal and are not required to have ANY training in that area)

5) With PGC's new two year rule, they have basically made it impossible to legally obtain any type of exotic captive-bred animal which interfers with any Pennsylvania citizen's individual right to pursue Agricultural Businesses and will result in underground breeding/sales, improper care and/or animals being illegally owned as pets.

6) The PGC has confiscated and killed many innocent animals - often animals that have been USDA licensed and living in very loving and caring homes with responsible owners.