Posted by:
DavidKendrick
at Wed Feb 11 20:07:29 2009 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by DavidKendrick ]
"To me, that's equivalent to anti-gun fanatics suing gun manufacturers because a person that was once perfectly sane purchased a gun legally, later in life his brain short-circuited and he killed someone. OR, a thief steals a legally owned gun & kills someone in a robbery attempt and people blame gun mfgs."
There is a process to purchasing a gun is there not? They take your drivers liscense, you have to verify your 18, for handguns its 21 right? To get some guns there is a background check, and waiting period correct? At least the people who deal with selling guns are at least trying to cover themselves...I love how every person who is on the other side of the arguement always loves to through out the anitgun ownership bit...lol
"It is not the breeders, dealers, sellers, OR the animals, that are causing us problems. It's mostly people that know better but either decide to go ahead & take the risk or inadvertently let their guard down. We all make mistakes. Some are more costly than others. It's a fact that the overwhelming majority of snake bites/attacks could not have been prevented by any type of screening process."
As a fellow "Big 5" keeper and breeder, you are responsible for making sure your offspring are put into the best care as possible, I am not saying you don't screen your customers, but a VAST majority of our fellow piers don't. I would like to see more responsiblity taken on the breeders and sellers part, this "oh once its out of my hands its not my problem"...well if you stuck two snakes together, incubated the eggs and hatched them out, you are ultimatley responsible for them existing on this earth....
WE as herpetoculturists are responsible for Burmese and the Big 5 for being in the united states...without herpetoculture the only time anyone would see Burmese Pythons would be on Boots or Handbags...But Herpetoculture is responsible for importing and breeding thousands of Burmese and Big5. Without us there would be no them...without herpetoculture...there would be no "mistakes"...with Burmese or Retics...I am pushing for those working with these species to be more proactive and selective on how many clutches are produced, and who they sell them too...To think about herpetoculture first and not the monetary gain that can be made...What the Big 5 Breeders do can affect everyone...as those are the ones being targeted by the government and media...If our fellow Big 5 breeders don't want to push each other to form a set of standards for this hobby, and this mentality of "I am going to breed a bunch of them and once they leave my care its not my problem" is not going to get my support. If you breed them...you can either be part of the problem or part of the solution...Push your piers who work with big 5 to at least try and push education and responsible ownership...Be more proactive...Dont take that attitude of "its not my problem once it leaves my care"
"Should every car dealer take a prospective buyer to a road course to make sure that they are safe drivers before selling them a car?"
What do you have to buy a car? Proof of drivers liscenes, Insurance....Credit history....You can't just go up and buy a car...
There are certain "processes" that are put in place to protect the sellers, I rarely see many people selling large constrictors taking the steps needed to make sure what they are selling is going to an apropriate home. This mentaliy of once it leaves my care its not my problem attitude is not a good one to have. I see it all to often where snakes get exhanged for cash and no questions are asked, thats for the Big 5, Venomous, Sulcatas, Iguanas, Monitors, ect..ect..Its turned into this money first, let them figure it out on their own mentality...and it will be the downfall of this hobby, if people care more about the monetary gain vs. making sure what they are selling is going to an educated, good home. All I am saying is at least try...have a list of standard questions to ask someone interested in something...you can usually tell right away if its someone who truely is passionate about reptiles, or just thinks it would be cool to have a big snake to show off to thier friends...
The point is....The Big 5 are not for everyone...and there are FAR to many people that own them that shouldn't, I see it all the time...its FAR to easy for someone to buy one with no questions asked....That is ultimatley the problem. I just hope everyone working with Burmese or the Big 5 try and make it a point to make sure your offspring that you are producing get in educated appropriate hands...thats all you can do...thats all I am asking of breeders to do.
I HIGHLY suggest breeders check out Mr.McCurely's Chat on Kingsnake about this very topic...It will be interesting to hear what he has to say. The Chat Topics are exactly what this nitche of the hobby needs to learn...In my opinion...
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Executive Reptiles
Amanda Kingsbury & David Kendrick
www.executivereptiles.com
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reply from a burm owner... - DavidKendrick, Wed Feb 11 20:07:29 2009 
