This is Kristen, writing in for Jim. mpollard, we don't know who you are....

1. Why yes, Jim has indeed gotten animals from animal dealers before. However, the amount of animals gotten from dealers is small compared to the amount of animals here that are from other zoos or were bred here. We don't really need dealers, we have an import license, but they are convenient to use if there is something needed for venom production.

2. Tim does know us- hi Tim! He is right that Jim supports RESPONSIBLE keeping of animals, hot or not. This includes keeping antiserum for the snakes you have- the step that many many people do not take. It also includes no free-handling, and not showing off with animals or using them for your own ego.

3. Animal Planet does have an agenda- it is to make money! They are going to use whatever sensational story they think will draw in the most viewers. Do you know how to ensure they don't get such stories? DON'T SELL ANIMALS TO IRRESPONSIBLE OR IGNORANT PEOPLE! Seriously, where do the nuts get their animals? They come from somewhere. If you are not a nut and don't want the 'bad side' to portray you as a nut, don't make animals available to people who shouldn't have them.

4. You mention KRZ not having a statement about the pet trade on our website. That's right, we don't, and why should we? KRZ is not about the pet trade- we are about venom research, conservation, and education. That is what our website is about and that is what it will continue to be about.

5. KRZ is a non-profit- we don't take stances as an organization about the pet trade, other than to suggest to kids that they find out about an animal before they get it as pet. We also don't join politically active groups such as USArk.

6. On the same note, KRZ as an institution does not care about TV, but it does care about generating publicity- that's life these days whether we like it or not. Comments from the general public so far have been positive about the most recent show.

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