More Tales From the Over Regulated State - A Series

In this case, fluffy cotton tails.  For reasons that are logical only to bureaucrats, the USDA has a thing about regulating bunnies.  Not women in skimpy costumes, the small, furry animal kind.

Some of you may remember an incident in May of 2011 where the USDA threatened to fine a Missouri family about $4 million for selling over $500 worth of rabbits.  This week we read magician Marty Hahne, who uses a small bunny in his act, has been ordered by the USDA to provide a written disaster plan for his little prop, er, partner, umm ...pet(?).  Blogger Bob McCarty has the cartoon and story on his blog:

Hahne writes:

My USDA rabbit license requirement has taken another ridiculous twist. I just received an 8 page letter from the USDA, telling me that by July 29 I need to have in place a written disaster plan, detailing all the steps I would take to help get my rabbit through a disaster, such as a tornado, fire, flood, etc. They not only want to know how I will protect my rabbit during a disaster, but also what I will do after the disaster, to make sure my rabbit gets cared for properly.  I am not kidding–before the end of July I need to have this written rabbit disaster plan in place, or I am breaking the law.

Hahne adds:

1. The new regulation became effective Jan. 30, 2012;
2. The written plan must be completed by July 29, 2013;
3. Hahne and his wife, Brenda, must be trained to implement the plan as written; and
4. The written plan must be available for review by USDA inspectors by Sept. 28, 2013.

The USDA's rabbit fetish may be as intense and stupid as the FDA's raw milk fetish, and that's pretty far gone.