Hey John,



I'm not sure what your argument is. By definition,

people CAN call snakes pets. I certainly consider my Indigo

snake a pet. Yes, he is MORE than just that, he is an educational tool, an example of preserving a threatened species, etc. But if we start changing the definitions of words, then we all might as well hang it up.



I think I agree with the thought behind your original post, but

I don't think playing semantics means anything. I think we can just as easily counter the anti-reptile nuts by saying herps are "more than just pets, they are also..." as by saying "they are NOT pets, that are..." And the former does not allow the adversary to accuse us of changing the language and playing semantical games.



Now we just need to figure out how to get a Congressional hearing initiated.



Thanks,

Ed









>>My experience has been when the snake is behaving as if it wants to get out and join the fun it is telling me something. Not trying to communicate with me, but 1) recognizing, I am the one that brings the food. It is hungry. 2) Recognizes I am the one that has the ability to open the cage and allow it to get out because a) the cage is filthy, b) it is thirsty, c) something is irritating it that it wishes to escape from (mites for example).

>>If the snake is confined and something it requires is not available, it will try to escape to find that something (food, water, shelter, environment).

>>If the snake is confined and subjected to an unpleasant physiological environmental situation it will try to escape that condition for a better location. It may recognize its keeper as the one that can facilitate that change in circumstance, but that is the extent of the bond.

>>jsc

>>-----

>>"As hard as I've tried, just can't NOT do this"

>>John Crickmer

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