You broke the law! You say "herp laws are stupid" but you make yourself look even worse by blatantly breaking the law. If you go to the news, they'll grill you. It sounds like their laws still provide plenty of opportunities to keep reptiles, just not large constrictors and knowing how few responsible owners there are out there, that is probably not a bad thing. Would I prefer to see fewer laws restricting ownership? Absolutely, however, breaking the law just because it doesn't mesh with your beliefs is just going to add more fuel to the fire for continued restrictions on our hobby. So, congrats, for making it that much harder for the rest of us.


>>OK, so the backstory is that a few days ago my large pet female burmese got "seized" by local Animal Control because she is larger than the 50 pound limit on snakes in my county. She has been transferred to a herp educational program so she is taken care of. I am in the process of trying to find out who reported her to Animal Control but that's a sidenote.
>>
>>Lo and behold, a local NEWS REPORTER shows up at my door today wanting to talk to me about the situation. I discussed it with her off camera but declined to go on camera about the situation, at least at that exact moment. And for those wondering, she apparently was tipped off by Animal Control and gave my personal information to the reporter. If I were to go on camera about it I would want to prepare. I do have the chance to still do it I imagine.
>>
>>I was wondering what others think? On the one hand I would want to take the chance to educate and cast some light on how herp laws are stupid and based on fear and not information. But on the other hand, Im wary of the media in any form when it comes to our animals. The irony of my rants against Snakes on a Plane (here and elsewhere), then my animal gets seized soon after, is not lost on me btw.
>>
>>Thoughts? Opinions?
-----
Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center at Elawa Farm
Lake Forest, IL

[ Show Entire Thread ]