Thanks for the welcome, WIReptile, as well as jscrick below this. I certainly wasn’t expecting all the responses and sure enough I would be the one to sign up here on a day when highly political threads were started. Not sure I’ll be able to bring myself to read all the responses that spawned from them. So instead I just tried to find the first positive one, even though it was found on the troll one. As a matter of fact, no I have not had any animal control raids on my property. Although I have read of one in particular that happened somewhere back east to a well respected breeder. Sad indeed. I do understand if many of you have had such experiences then by all means you would feel bitter about that. I would too. Let me state that I am not associated with HUSA or PETA or any animals rights orgs, although like it or not, I do feel that someone needs to stand up for rampant abuses in the commercial meat industry. That’s my choice. These orgs are far from perfect, I completely understand that. And I don’t think it’s cool they try to ram the vegetarian lifestyle down those who love meat and anyone who will listen.. And with their stance on no-reptiles-as-or-any-pets, I fully disagree with that. That they are “indoctrinating the young” just sounds a bit conspiracy theory-ish to me so I won’t go there with that. I know someone in the threads stated it’s something like either fully against them or fully not. I see it this way, it’s like when trying to choose a leader (I won’t mention any names) but getting a choice between satan and a lesser satan, what are we supposed to do? It’s an ongoing quest to try to determine the “most perfect” anti-abuse type org to side with, one that doesn’t mess with responsible reptile pet keeping and breeding. I’m just a small herp breeder. I keep a variety of pythons, boas, colubrids; I sell locally to choice collectors and I do minimal, if any, advertising. I’ve been able to keep a steady but small side income doing it, and my care standards surpass other breeders/collectors that I know. I’m a mite nazi and cleanliness freak. I care for my own animals if and when they fall ill mostly w/o need of a vet. I’ve many times helped out my fellow keepers animals when theirs go sick.

I was here to join in the larger community and see what the industry outside of my little realm is doing. I’d considered signing up here before but because my time is so limited I just didn’t get around to it. Call me naïve if you like, doesn’t bother me. Nor does any of the name calling, I can rise above that because I don’t take it personally. If I’ve offended anyone here, then you have my apology, there was no offense intended. I’m happy to lay low, keep my political leanings to myself and stick with the hands-on side of herpetoculture that is what I really care about.

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