Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Accidents are always making the news. Here's some good press for a change...

http://www.envenomated.com/images/newspaward.jpg

I hope the pic works

Good Press

The majority of the information was great, but the fact that they show Mr. Minter holding a baby cougar which was for sale at the expo could potentially cause a backlash in some people's minds. I'm personally not sure it is such a good idea to have large, dangerous carnivores for sale at herp expos, as the public's opinion tends to heavily rail against them whereas they tend to leave herps alone (speaking overall here). It just seems like the article could've done without the picture of the cougar cub and little blurb about it being one of the "many exotic animals for sale there" and whatnot.
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Chance Duncan
www.rivervalleyexotics.com

Remember,

Someone's right to responsibly own, purchase, and keep a big cat is just as important as our right to responsibly own, purchase, and keep a venomous snake.

Great White Sharks, Grizzly Bears, Tigers, Eastern Diamondbacks... they can all cause the same damage and one won't make you more or less dead than the other.

Don't forget that not every burmese python ends up a rescue, and not every big cat ends up mauling its owners neighbor. There are those out there who responsibly keep big cats and we shouldn't imply that keeping big cats is bad. Keeping them irresponsibly IS bad. Stereotyping anyone who keeps/buys/sells big cats as irresponsible is just as bad as any other stereotype... would it not be?

The public isn't going to look at keeping venomous snakes any differently than they are going to look at keeping big cats. Look at the proposed laws being passed? does it say keeping hots is ok and big cats isn't? no, it is an across the board ban. period.

What we as keepers need to do is show the public that there are responsible keepers (of any exotic) who benefit the community by having the knowledge, experience, and training. If anything will postpone, if not prevent, the death of this hobby it is showing the public that there is value in keeping them.

Which article would you rather have in the paper about you? one like this or one like ran in the paper after the Spartanburg show? The headline on that one was about a "Show with a bite" and the over-zealous reporter went on to parrot one persons boasting of having "been in a death-struggle with his cobra" while trying to remove an eyecap... sad... sad just plain sad

I say give people the right to sell the big cats, sell the burmese pythons, sell the iguanas, sell the venomous snakes and pass a law making KEEPING THE ANIMALS IRRESPONSIBLY A FELONY., This would at least punish the people who do the wrongful acts and would preserve the rights of the responsible keepers.

Again, I stand by my opinion, someone's right to responsibly keep/sell/buy a big cat is just as important as my right to responsibly keep/sell/buy a venomous snake.

I'm by no means saying I don't think people should be able to keep big cats or any other potentially dangerous animal. That would be quite hypocritical of me, as I've raised a cbb bobcat before and currently keep some giant, potentially dangerous birds (and plan to get some even 'more' dangerous ones in the future). I have nothing against exotic keepers, because I am one! My point is, seeing a picture in a newspaper of someone holding a baby cougar with the caption that it was "for sale" at the show can easily cause a person who disagrees with keeping big cats (which I believe outnumber those opposed to keeping herps in general, not just hots) to automatically associate that negative feeling to the show and anything associated with it.

I completely agree with you that there needs to be federal laws to deal with irresponsible keepers of ANY animals. Unfortunately, it easier to just ban them and be done with it, or at least that's how most people see it. It'd be a sad day indeed when the only animals you could find in people's residences were dogs (only the 'nice' ones of course), cats (wait...they may be too dangerous), and hamsters (oops, no, they can carry communicable disease).
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Chance Duncan
www.rivervalleyexotics.com

Where our love of animals is getting us into legislation is scary. It is up to us to do our best.

Strict liability is almost a joke. There are plenty of laws while outline these concepts for purposes just like folks who rehabilitate large cats or dangerous snakes. But court is expensive and it seems like everyone just wants clear and solid laws where cases are cut and dry. Seems like a bit away from our original plan...but some people like the comfort and AARP has the money to make laws as they feel comforting.

It is the job of the press to report what there is. If there are baby cats for sale which might spark problems...its likely going to happen. You kind of have to take in the good with the bad on those issues. Publicity can be worth a fortune. The problem is you do not get to have the control you might want.

I would certainly not call this a bad article. I think the "sale of cougars" section might have been better left out for OUR own selfish purposes in masking what we feel too many people will not understand. It honestly seemed to do what we pay the press for. It gave the news how it was...and really we should be careful when we ask for more.