what is interesting in this news report is they state a very clear problem but their proposed solution, doesn't solve the current problem at all.



putting a permit to own large snakes, will only help if it's enforced at the buying point, not at the possessing point. just as there is an age requirement for a person to buy smokes or beer, it doesn't stop underaged from getting booze and cigaretts over the counter, not to mention just getting older friends/siblings to buy it for them. petstores will have to be regulated not to sell any large snake unless the protential buyer has the permit already. permits also shouldn't be given out to just anybody asking for it. those who already own large snakes should be inspected, to ensure they have the cages and means to properly care for these snakes. being large, the snakes need more than one person around to properly handle them. a big strong guy may have no problems benching twice his weight in the gym but it's quite a different matter trying to lift a 100 pound burmese python that's ten feet long who isn't being cooperative. these snakes also need the proper environment, temps, climbing ledges, hiding places etc. and the owners need to be able to afford to feed and care for the animals.



regulating current and potential owners of large snakes, doesn't do squat about the current populations of large snakes and lizards already running loose in florida. a task force will be needed to round up all these 'illegal aliens' and either send them to proper homes or have them humanely euthanized. not a pleasant thought but it may be the only real solution. money can be raised to further the costs of rounding up the strays by selling the snakes to responsible owners, or selling the meat and skins to locals to eat and create snake skin products.



i feel the regulations would work better if applied at the breeder and petstore end, more than the end 'owner'. if petstores refuse to carry large snakes and lizards, or refuse to sell such animals to young people or impulse buying adults, it will go a long way to eliminate careless buyers from getting a cute pretty snake not realizing it can easily reach 20 feet or more and weight more than a full grown adult human. if petstore owners and employees take that extra step to ensure potential buyers are aware of the care requirements, potential expenses in housing and feeding their little reptile, as well as adult sizes, maybe more people will not impulse buy. sure the petstore will lose out on sales but in the end, animals won't be suffering dying due ot inappropriate care or being dumped by owners who don't wish to care for it and couldn't be bothered finding a new home for their unwanted pet.



irresponsible pet owners is not limitd to the reptile or exotic world. countless numbers of cats and dogs are dumped off on the outskirts of towns or cities. some just dropped off in another neighbourhood, with no considering on how that unwanted animal is to survive or the impact it wil have in later years. just like another poster mentioned, he saw a pack of stray dogs on the way home. stray dogs and cats can be a problem, being more feral they could attack children or other pets, carry diseases normally eliminated in pets with regular vacinations, often are half starved and suffering etc.



another point brought up is the only way to ensure a universal ban on all exotics isn't approved, is for the reptile/exotic community to actively campaign the merits of responsible pet keepers. the lack of care or abandonment of animals by irresponsible pet keepers is not limited to exotic pet keepers. most likely the same kind of people who dump unwanted exotics into the wilds of florida are the same kind of people who dump unwanted cats or dogs in farming communities, assuming farmers always want more dogs and cats to feed.



in the city i recently moved to, i recently learned that it was one or two local experts in reptiles who suggested and received changes in teh proposed ban on all exotic pets in the city area. through his actions the by laws were changed to exclude bans on many popular reptile pets, restricting the ban to more larger and potentially dangerous reptiles, instead of an all inclusive ban. thanks to the efforts of these people and the local reptile association, residents of this city can keep bearded dragons, ball pythons, rainbow boas, sand boas, and many other popular pets. though i am disappointed that he didn't fight for allowance for green iguanas, i certainly understand why he didn't. too often these pretty emerold green baby iguanas are killed by inproper care.



another t hing i am pleased about is alot of the local petstore employees are pretty knowledgeable about the reptiles they keep. none are perfect but many times while i was waiting to get crickets, frozen rodents or whatnot at the petstore, i listen to coversations between a petstore employee and a potential buyer of a pet. many times i heard the correct information being passed. it sometimes isn't 100 percent accurate but close enough that i know this new owner will be taking good care of the animals. recently a woman who recently bought a baby corn snake was given good advice on what size of rodent to feed it. the employee didn't mention the one and one half girth size as a way to determine sizes but did indicate that as the snake grow bigger it will take larger and larger sized mice then small rats. she also went further and suggested the customer pick up a copy of the corn snake manual [or similar corn snake care book] for further information as well as the internet. she also went on to explain the use of both dry and moist hides, showing a new product recently put out by one of the big reptile supply companies, which i didn't even know about. i checked it out later and it was actually a nice looking hide. looks much like rock with a hole in the top for small snakes to get in. it was also in two or three pieces so you can also use it as an egg laying bin as well.



in other petstores where i used to live, i have heard horrible suggestions for reptile care, often i would wait till the employee left and talked to the customer myself, mentioning additional information, without trying to make the employee look completely moronic.



the bottom line is, we should be trying to be as active as p ossible to educate our own communities. find the local reptile association and if there isn't any, maybe it's a good ideal to create one yourself. most petstores don't care if you adverfise a non profit type organization relating to educating people on reptiles and reptile care. once you have a group of people you can arrange to do presentations at schools, libraries and even at malls. get involved with events in the city or town as well. if your town council has meetings, go to them, especially if there is to be any discussion of new pet related bylaws. or just ask to bring it up sometime, that you and your friends would like gain support in educating people about proper care of lizards and and reptiles, both young and old and teaching people to understand how to choose what sort of pet is best for them, both in interest and ability to care for.



even talking with local petstore managers, not in a confrontational manner but maybe approach them as though you assume they know all about the reptiles they sell, whether you know if they do or not. invite them to meetings, or joining the reptile group you are part of or started. they may realize they don't know enough about reptiles or their head company, if a chain of petstores, may be unaware of new improve treatment and care methods for reptiles. big chain petstores may not spend much money and time researching new ways to care for the animals they sell, instead concentrating on better ways to market what they sell and what new products are out there for reptile and mammal care and food. since most petstores make th eir money off dog and cat products, the bigwigs in the company are probably spending the majority of their research in the big money making aspects. educating the local store manager may not affect the head honchos at main office, but it could be enough to see to it the animals sold at that particular store are cared for better and it's employees are more knowledgeable about the animals being sold, so can give on that care info to new owners.



wow long post, sorry for the length but felt i should express my thoughts.
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PHLdyPayne

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