‘Amnesty is not automatic’ for giving up exotic animals

By June Watanabe

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Jul 03, 2012

~~Question: In May, the Star-Advertiser reported that a man surrendered his pet boa constrictor to police, but only after officers persuaded him (<a target="_blank" href="http://is.gd/CtXfw8">is.gd/CtXfw8</a>). Does this mean any person in possession of an illegal animal can keep it until caught, then turn it in without fear of prosecution? Amnesty should encourage people to surrender snakes voluntarily before they are caught, but once caught, they should be prosecuted.
Answer: The amnesty program has long been criticized for giving immunity to people caught with illegal animals.
~~

Question: In May, the Star-Advertiser reported that a man surrendered his pet boa constrictor to police, but only after officers persuaded him (is.gd/CtXfw8). Does this mean any person in possession of an illegal animal can keep it until caught, then turn it in without fear of prosecution? Amnesty should encourage people to surrender snakes voluntarily before they are caught, but once caught, they should be prosecuted.

Answer: The amnesty program has long been criticized for giving immunity to people caught with illegal animals. Login for more...