What does it mean for now ...

Here is the current synopsis on the law that already went into effect on January 1, 2006:

Livestock premises registration means that any location where livestock congregate - family farm, hobby farm, backyard poultry flocks, veterinary clinics, markets, livestock dealers and haulers - provides to a central database an address, contact person and list of species. The location gets a unique number. This is the first step in developing a nationwide system to trace livestock movements within 48 hours in case of an animal disease outbreak, so we can find where an infection originated and what animals have been exposed.

If you keep animals on your property, you are legally required to comply. Do you have a pet horse? You must register. A goat for weed control? Register! An old spent hen from your chick-raising days? You have to comply.

At this time a few animals are exempt .... dogs, cats and rabbits being among them. However, some states are pressing for dogs and cats to be registered because the "avian flu" has purportedly crossed to cats.

"Livestock," as defined by the WI Premises Registration Act Rules

Includes:

· bovine (bison, cattle)

· equine (horses, donkeys, mules)

· goats

· poultry (chickens, turkeys, geese, ducks, guinea fowl, and squab)

· captive game birds (pheasants, quail, wild turkeys, migratory wildfowl, pigeons, and exotic birds,)

· sheep

· swine (other than wild hogs but including pot belly pigs)

· farm raised deer (elk, moose, caribou, reindeer, and the subfamily musk deer)

· camelids (llamas, alpacas)

· ratites (rheas, ostriches, emu, cassowary, kiwi)

· fish (aquaculture farm)

Not included:

· Rabbits

· Dogs

· Cats

Do not think that you are "safe" from this legislation just because you only have a housepet. It just isn't that simple.