Simply putting a dog on a leash does not make an owner responsible. An ill-mannered dog should not be taken in public. If the dog is, then he/she should be muzzled. As far as the "dog mace"... I'm sure your mailman would use it on whatever came after him. Be it snake, dog, human, or jack-a-lope. I'm also certian that if your mail carrier came into contact with as many boas as he did dogs, he would be more likely to get tagged by one of the snakes. I do see your point, but as someone who is into big constrictors, which I'm assuming is the case, you should also support dog people. If the government can take away all the pit bulls, presas, tosas, argentine dogos, etc., they can just as easily leave you with cages filled with garter snakes because your b.c.i., b.c.c., or retic is now illegal to own. If you take your big boa out and he nails some kid who was just holding his pet ferret, it is not the kid's fault. It is not the snake's fault. It is your fault for putting the snake in that situation and allowing the snake's head to be out of your control. Same applies to an unruly dog on a leash. That leash should be much shorter and the dog should not be able to come into contact with other people. Again, the owner's liability. I always muzzle my snakes when they leave the house.

Phil Goss

P.S. Anyone who believed the snake muzzle comment, please report back the ball python forum.

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