Posted by:
HappyHillbilly
at Thu Feb 12 16:41:06 2009 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by HappyHillbilly ]
"Thats totally cool you where able to let your child sit and play with a large Burmese Python, now do I think that is a good idea? NO...I do not think its a good idea for small children to "play" with large constictors,"
Play? There's nothing in either one of those photos that indicate my child is "playing" with the snake(s). He knows not to attempt to restrict the large snake's movements. In that first photo there just so happens to be an adult foot in the shoe less than 2ft away from him. If you look close enough you can see their pants leg.
No animal scent on the child, the child's clothing, or in the room (other than a baby bearded dragon which will not trigger a feeding response or aggression from a Burmese python). The snakes are well fed & well conditioned. The snake's head is not near his face. Plenty of precautions were taken within both of those photos. My son has handled those snakes since they were hatchlings.
"...what if while you where taking those pictures, the burmese choose to do what happened in the recent case with the Tiger Retic...Would you just chaulk it up as..."We all make mistakes"..."
"This is the exact type of behavor I don't agree with in the "Nitche" of herpetoculture...I think people who own Venomous, Large Constictors, ect.. should be extra careful with what they have."
As I already mentioned, there were plenty of precautions taken in those photos. Yes, there were also items strategically placed in the event of a serious incident. My photo is the exact opposite of what happened with the retic & child in the first story you linked to in your first post. That child appears to have been unattended, not instructed well enough (maybe, maybe not), and many other precautionary flaws.
If the Burmese in my first photo were to have struck or coiled my child, it would not have ended up in the news because responsible keepers like me know what to do & when to do it, or not do it.
Furthermore, that female Burmese has NEVER struck, bitten, coiled, or displayed ANY type of defensive or aggressive behavior in it's entire 4-plus years of life. It could be her individual, personal nature, but it's mainly due to my husbandry techniques. The male, pictured behind my son in the 2nd photo, has only stuck/bitten once, and that was within hours of when we purchased it. For the most part, it's all in how they're conditioned and how they're maintained.
"I currently keep 1 Burmese Python, and I personally would never let a child do what you are picturing in your post,"
Once again, I honestly don't mean to degrade you or your experience. Not at all. Hopefully, after you have kept more than a single Burmese python (or other large snake) you will learn that not every snake of a certain species has the same personality and that proper conditioning & husbandry can do wonders. None of the snakes that I've raised from early age have strong feeding responses to where they fly to the cage opening expecting food. Quite the opposite with mine. When the cage is opened they gingerly crawl to me and can be handled with ease.
"While I am sure you are very comforatble with your burmese pythons, I am sure all those other accidents and "Mistakes" they where comforatble with thier snakes too."
Yes, I am very comfortable with my burms, retics, venomous, monitors, and various others. The difference between me & the incidents in the news is that I don't take unnecessary chances. You do not try to administer meds to large snakes or potentially dangerous animals without someone with you that knows what to do in case of an emergency. You don't allow snakes to free roam a room, especially not in an unsecured room if there is a child in the house.
It only takes a lil' bit of common sense. Unfortunately, common sense appears to be very rare these days.
For the record, I'm not wanting to diminish your idea of breeders/dealers/sellers using discretion or ensuring that a potential buyer is well aware of what they're getting into. I'm with you 100% on that.
Yeah, we all have different opinions on different things. When we are able to not let these difference interfere with what should be our overall goal, we will accomplish things together. I am not against you in any way, form or fashion. I initially just pointed out the irrelevancy of the connection you made between buyer screening & the incidents that add fuel to the fire of the latest legislation proposals. Nothing personal, I assure you.
Have a good one!
HH
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Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American
www.natures-signature.com
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RE: Again...My last reply....lol - HappyHillbilly, Thu Feb 12 16:41:06 2009