GAME COMMISSION RAID ON PLANTATION DELIGHT
13 INNOCENT EXOTIC ANIMALS TAKEN FROM THEIR HOME- 4 SERVALS, 3 KINKAJOUS,  
3 RINGTAIL LEMURS, 2 FENNEC FOXES, AND ONE DAMA WALLABY.

Two years later USDA changed their mind and I became licensed as an Exotic Animal breeder. In the last 6 years I added African Servals, Fennec Fox, Ringtail Lemurs, Kinkajous, Genets and a Dama Wallaby. I also obtained both a Kennel license and a Dealers and Haulers license through the Pa Dept of Agriculture. I thought I had covered by bases until 2 years ago someone told me that I needed a license from the Pa Game Commission. No Problem, I said and I called the Pa Game Commission. I have had two years of hell.

I called the Pa Game Commission in July 6, 2001. Told them what I had and they threw a fit. Told me not to buy anything else and they would send someone out to see me. The local Game Officer came to my home on August 8, 2001. I shared all my USDA records with him and told him about all my animals. I wanted to do everything legally and I thought I had nothing to hide. On August 30, 2001 the Game Officer returned. He told me I broke all kinds of laws and they could fine me thousands and thousands of dollar. But they were going to be nice and let me keep my Servals, Fennecs and Sugar Gliders and give me an Exotic Breeders license. He said I had to get rid of my Lemurs, Kinkajous, Genets and my Wallaby- out of state. I asked why I was allowed to have some animals and not others. He told me some of my animals were exotic and the others were not. He said, “the license covers lions, tigers, and bear-Oh my”. I asked for him to put this deal in writing and to give me a copy of the laws.

Nov. 24, 2001- 7 pm. The Game Officer arrived with an application for an Exotic Breeders License, a permit to get rid of my animals-out of state. And one paragraph about the law. I again said I was confused about why I could keep certain animals and not the others. He said that I could not keep anything that I brought into the state illegally. I told him that my Lemurs and my genets were both purchased in Pa from a licensed breeder. He said he wasn’t sure about that breeder and he would have to check into it and get back to me. I again asked for him to put into writing what I needed to do and a copy of the law. The following week I sent him my completed application-listing all my animals, the fee, and a letter again requesting that it be put in writing.

I did not see him(Game Officer) again until May 16, 2002. He gave me back my application. He said he could not process it because I did not give him a letter from my township saying it was okay. My husband asked him “where on the application does it say you need a letter from the township”. He replied “it doesn’t-that is an old application”. He claimed he had told me that I needed that letter. At that point I was so frustrated that I said that I wanted to record out conversations to be sure I understood all his instructions. He became very upset and said it was illegal to tape him and he would not give permission. He then threatened to get a warrant and confiscate my animals. I said good -then I could go before a judge who would surely know the laws that he didn’t seem to know.

After this meeting I contacted my local State Representative and asked for his assistance. He did some calling and got nowhere and was just as confused as I was. He offered to meet with the game officer and myself in order to get this straightened out.

June 15, 2002. Game Officer again showed up with another Officer. Said he wanted to resolve this before the end of the fiscal year- in two weeks. I told him that my state representative agreed to meet with us and I was not going to meet with him alone.

My state representative tried numerous times to reach the game officer to set up a meeting and he did not return the phone calls.

Aug 2002. I just wanted things resolved. I was tired of not knowing what was going on and fearful that my animals were in danger so I e-mailed the Governor and asked for clarification regarding the laws regulating animals in Pa. There are two conflicting laws in Pa. Act 100 of 1996 states that any animal in captivity is a domestic animal. And then there is Title 34- Game Codes that are very ambiguous. Well, that didn’t work. The governor turned over my e-mail to the Game Commission who were clearly pissed that I e-mailed the governor. I received a nasty letter from the Head of compliance (Pa Game Commission). Told me that they have been more than patient with me and by now I should know the laws and have broken many. I forwarded the letter to my State Rep. He called and was told that the Pa Game Commission had filed a complaint with the DA’s office and that I had received a letter saying I had 30 days to comply. I had never received any letter so I hired a lawyer. My lawyer called the DA. They had never heard of me. So they lied to my State Rep and me.

I then let my lawyer deal with them. My lawyer continued to assure me that all was well. He said he had convinced them that my animals were all exotic and that he was just trying to set up a meeting to get this straightened out. He was having problems reaching the game officer.

March 19, 2003. A man posing as someone who was interested in buying a serval came to my house and looked at a 6-month-old serval for his girlfriend. He said he would get back to me on Friday if he was interested.

March 21, 2003 9am. Six trucks and one state Police car pull into my driveway. 9 guys with guns approached my door. They said they had a search warrant and they were here to take my animals. They were video taping the entire scenario. He told me I had a choice to assist them in catching my animals to insure their safety or they would do it and they could not guarantee their safety I told them my serval was ready to have her kittens and if I pulled her out of her nest box, she would probably eat her young. Their response was that either I put her in a carrier or they would. I was trying to catch my lemurs when my phone rang. When I turned around three officers were in the lemur cage and one officer was pulling my female by the tail ripping her off of the rafters. They put my animals in a truck that had dead geese in it. I had to ask them to please remove the dead animals for fear of disease.

Something has to be done. I am going to court to fight this issue and to get my animals returned. But more has to be done to change the laws and to take some of the power away from the Game Commission. No one is safe. I know a lot of people who have just done what the Game Commission says just to get rid of them. Somebody needs to hold them accountable and that somebody needs to be us.