Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Who's the real rat?

Just when you think things can't possibly get any loopier, they do.

Allow me a bit of history. Years ago when we lived in Oregon, when Older Daughter was just barely a toddler, we had a rat infestation. We had rats all over the house, in our basement, in our barn, in the chicken coop, in the shop, everywhere. Rats are BIG. And when you're watching your tiny toddler facing a rat, maternal instinct kicks in and you really, really want to make sure your kid isn't bitten.

We set traps and soon our problem was eradicated. If we were to have a repeat of that problem today, we would solve it in the same way.

So it's just durn lucky we don't live in Washington D.C. where it's the LAW that you cannot exterminate a rat. Please, spare me the lame jokes about politicians (because I agree with you), but the fact remains that rats are not endangered in any way. What they are is numerous, clever, filthy (their urine and droppings contaminate food), and vectors of disease.

The Wildlife Protection Act, passed unanimously in 2010, prohibits pest control operators from killing pests such as rats and mice. Instead -- get this -- the animals must be relocated. And more than that, pest control operators cannot break up rat families. Yes, you read that right. You can't leave Grampa Charlie Rat or Aunt Matilda Rat behind -- you have to round them all up and transport them together. (I'll leave you to speculate as to the impossible logistics of this feat.)

This is, Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli notes, "a triumph of animal rights over human health."

What on earth does the Virginia Attorney General have to do with this law? Simple. The "relocated" rats are being transported across the river into Virginia, where they are released (in family groups, of course). "Actual experts in pest control will tell you, if you don’t move an animal about 25 miles, it will come back," Cuccinelli said. "So what’s the solution to that? Across the river."

Gene Harrington of the Fairfax-based National Pest Management Association called it a "stupid, stupid, ill-advised, ill-conceived law." Bingo, couldn't have said it any better myself.

So here we have an example of the entire population of Washington D.C. held captive by the bleeding-heart legislation of a few. And this, I think you'll agree, encapsulates the entire problem America is facing at the moment -- the entire population held captive by the bleeding-heart legislation of a few.

It is my sincerest wish that those doofuses who saw fit to pass this law will have their homes invaded by rats.

28 comments:

  1. We live in times where up is down and down is up.

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  2. Why not relocate the rats to the yards of the people who thunked up this law? Or had anything to do with it getting passed.Hey, you wanted 'em protected, here they are..

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  3. Lord help us, we don't stand a chance...this is not the country in which I was born. It's gone.

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  4. Here in Colorado one big problem is prairie dogs. Seems they are everywhere, except when the black plague wipes out the dogs in an area (health problem, what health problem?)

    A city here decided it was going to relocate all the dogs in the city to a field (not part of the city) between our church and a housing development. We organized the neighborhood, and even though the city took the position that we had no say in the matter, managed to get the State to stop them, this time. But we need to make sure they don't try the same thing again.

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  5. The absurdity never ends. The insane are truly running the asylum.

    In California, the Department of Fish & Game is being infiltrated by the HSUS. It's a match made in hell. And soon, I'm sure, rats will be protected in this state, just like in DC.

    In San Francisco, pets are not owned by people, people are animal caretakers. The legal implications of this change in title are enormous.

    Beware, it won't be long before animals have more rights than citizens - and that is not an exaggeration. Why is this happening? Because the food police are setting the groundwork for a vegetarian lifestyle for all Americans. Obamacare has many tentacles.

    Anonymous Patriot
    USA

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  6. The headline does not match the facts. From one of the linked articles: <>

    This has nothing to do with Obama's healthcare plan, Anon 9:58. Obama, by his own admission, loves steak and loves BBQ. I do think it is crazy that animal rights activists have the ability to interfere with those of us who raise our own meat or who need to rid our property of animal pests.

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    1. Ever hear of Cass Sunstein? If you truly believe these laws have nothing to do with Obamacare, then you are drinking too much Kool-Aid. I bet you never thought taxpayers would own GM, either. Or that NDAA would become law. Or that our own government would sell guns to Mexican drug cartels and then try to blame American citizens for selling those same guns. Far too many Americans have said "it can't happen here" or "it's not about that" and have lived to see it happen. Don't be fooled by the headlines or the subterfuge.

      Anonymous Patriot
      USA

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  7. Relocate them? Relocate inner city rats to... where? I can't imagine anyone wanting breeding clans of rats and mice relocated to their property, and all property is owned by someone. And boy, howdy, would I yell if they relocated them near me! Rats have rights over my families health? Think again.

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  8. So....Can the folks in Virginia set rat traps?

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    1. Sounds like a money-making opportunity for some Virginia land-owner. A field seeded with rat poison, surrounded by rat traps. And a shooting range. Where all the DC exterminators, for a small per-deposit fee, can drop off their loads of intact rat families for "relocation". And then the rats, in their intact families, will be "relocated" to the afterlife.

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  9. Many years ago when my kids were in school, we took them on a trip to D.C. They do not reminisce about the museums and govenrment buildings, they talk about watching the rats in the alley below our hotel. How gross and how stupid.

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  10. This law is stupid and tells you so much about the people we have allowed to be in charge. BUT, what left me with my mouth open was that they actually believe the proper way to get rid of these pests is to bring them to Virginia and release them. What an incredibly stupid and un-neighborly thing to do. Is that even legal?

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  11. My cat caught a rat this week. He is currently checking for family members of this rat. I am glad the cat can't read or make "moral" decisions. The cat was generously rewarded by his caretaker for his labor.
    GrannyBoo

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  12. Anon. 10:35, it makes no difference whether Obama loves steak. The "elites" who aim to control us have no intention of living under the same laws they are planning for us.

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  13. If I remember correctly the rats we have today aren't native to the states I think they are Norwegion(viking)rats. They came in and wiped out the rats that were native. Also what if your cat kills one will it get sent to prision?

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  14. Hard to believe this is still America

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  15. I've commented to my wife that we are now living in Bizarro World (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bizarro_World).
    This morning the local talk-show radio host made the same comment.
    Your blog post confirms it, we ARE living in Bizarro World!

    petek

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  16. It's still a stupid law, but rats are exempt.
    Attachment A – Page 1 – Section 2. Definitions.
    (1) “Animals” or “wildlife” shall mean free-roaming wild animals, except commensal rodents, which are designated on the wildlife control operator license by the Department as species that may be controlled under this chapter by a wildlife or pest control operator. “Animals” or “wildlife” does not include domestic animals kept as pets, including feral dogs or cats.
    (2) “Commensal rodent” shall include the following species:
    (1) House mouse (Mus musculus).
    (2) Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus).
    (3) Roof rat (Rattus rathus).

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    1. Commensal rodents are roof rats, Norway rats, and the house mouse. What about the Marsh rice rat, deer mouse, and white footed mouse. They inhabit the district as much as the Commensal rodents. But, they are protected by the act and must be live trapped and relocated in family units.

      Its called: unintended consequences. Would you like the skunks, racoons, possums and other assorted vermin dumped in or near your property?

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    2. I don't disagree with you. It's a stupid law. I wouldn't ask the critter for an ID. If it looks like a rat, it's dead, along with it's next of kin. That way I would still keep the family together. You wouldn't rat me out, would you? (Pun intended)

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  17. Oh the irony in this posting!

    Rats! In D.C. no less!

    ROFLM Fanny OFF Patrice!


    notutopia

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  18. When we ask ourselves WHY our liberal leaders are permitting such ridiculous actions such as these Patrice mentions, we need only turn to what those in the know are saying about liberals.

    A social scientist who understands human nature would never ignore our freedom of choice, voluntary cooperation and moral integrity, but liberals do. Any politician who understands these human traits would never ignore individual differences such as talent, ambition, personal appeal and work ethic, then demand economic and social equality of our population, but liberals do. Any legislator who understands human nature would never create oppressive rules that over-regulate and over-tax our citizens, corrupt their character and force them to be totally dependent on the government, but liberals do.

    This is why many prominent psychiatrists and psychologists (the non-liberal ones, anyway) are convinced that liberals are actually insane. And being insane, they do and say insane things and act insanely. This is why it is impossible to reason with any of them. If we're not totally agreeing with them and giving in to their demands, they simply tune us out. These lunatics have managed to gain control of our government, our nation and our lives. It's time to say ENOUGH! --Fred & Deb in AZ

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  19. This is amazing! My son will be moving to D.C. in a few months. I'll have to share this with him and let him know to pack extra, he'll be having house guest! haha.

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  20. I think the families of rats should be re-located to the White House, the Capitol, the EPA building etc. I bet this insane legislation would be repealed pronto!

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  21. This is a stupid law but there is an easy solution - once the rats cross the Virginia state line, it is perfectly legal to kill them. Perhaps the caring liberals in Maryland might provide homes for the rats. Here in Virginia, we kill them.

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  22. it is no wonder that congress has such a low approval rating as does prez food stamps.Rats were the chief transmitter of the black plaque, and appears they are setting themselves up to get a good dose of it themselves the fools.

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  23. I grew up in Jamaica. My family would often raise chickens. Sometimes for eggs. Sometimes for meat. Often for both. When I was about 14 we bought about fifty young chicks and put them in their coop for the night. By next morning, all fifty were dead. Rats had gotten in through a hole in the chicken wire and killed every single one. I learnt the hard way to check my dove cot regularly the make sure the boards were not being chewed through. Else I would find my doves with their heads bitten off. Farmers are in an eternal war again vermin. They are a jeopardy to your very livelihood. To think that people who don't get their dirty for a living want to protect them, has to be one of the stupidest things ever.

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