When I was applying to law schools, I had to prepare a resume to send in with my applications that included all of the "extra-curricular activities" that I was involved in. Since keeping and breeding boas has been my favorite hobby since I was 5, I wanted to include that on the list. When I asked my college advisor how to word it on the list, he said to me, "Wait, YOU breed boas??? You may as well have just told me you smoke crack!!!" Needless to say, I get a similar reaction from most people who aren't into boas also.

The good news is that whenever I go to shows or talk to someone about our boas on the phone, they might be a little shocked that I actually know what I'm talking about at first, but usually, I find that people tend to treat me with same amount of respect that they treat my father (my co-conspirator in the hobby, who btw, was terrified of snakes when he bought me my first pair of BRB's at the age of 5! LOL).

It is unfortunate that people assume that women wouldn't ever be so active in this hobby, but I think part of that does come from the fact that we still aren't so common! As this hobby continues to thrive and as more and more intelligent women breed boas successfully, I'm sure people won't be so shocked by us anymore!

Congrats on your litters this year!!

Amanda Burke

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