Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Below is a link to an article published in the highly read and respected Washington Post newspaper. This is the newspaper read by members of Congress and other Washington bigwigs and could be damaging to our hobby. I am working on a letter to the Editor that will hopefully be published (not holding my breath though) and wanted help or input with the contents. There are statistics in the article that have been refuted (they get some from HSUS of all places) and Im looking for information on the real stats. For example, they state that 7000 venomous snake bites and 15 deaths occur per year but they also state that it does not differentiate wild attacks from captive attacks. I remember this information being AVAILABLE somewhere? Anyway, you get the gist of what Im trying to do here.
Feel free to send your own letter to letters@washpost.com. We need to get something POSITIVE printed!
Thanks!
Damaging Exotics Article in the Washington Post

The article is not completely damaging. There are some idiots who should not adopt, like the dumb teen and the iguanas. GRRRR!
They are out there and it is good to discourage idiots.

It does point out that there are others who are serious owners.

Cindy

Maybe this is just me releasing some pent up anger or something, but did anyone notice any of the errors in the article itself? The tortoise name halfway through could pass as a typo, but did you notice the caption to the picture? Ball python, indeed... If they're going to criticize something, at least get someone who knows what they're talking about to do it. Urg...ok...that felt good.

Aside from the same drivil we see every year one person in this artical scares me and that is Mr . Ferguson . Everyone who knows me knows I do not have anything against people owning hots . However sell a snake such as a Gabone Viper to somebody that knows nothing about them other then the color is nice is like selling a gun to someone who has not taken a fire arms safety class . It is a very dangerous thing to do and such practices are not looked to kindly on by alot of hot keepers .

This artical did have some good points but also had some bias to it too . They really should deferre to more to people in our hobby and not go to the HSUS which has a long standing stance against our hobby .

Kevin
NAROA

How about if we all started sending e-mails to the Washinton post
and the powers that be showing statistics from HSUS being compared with accurate statistics. You have to wonder why they have the credability that they do. The only publications that should be running their articles are the tabloids.
MHO. Alan,

I dont even want to get started on how some people are about selling snakes and not tell anyone about them. I see it at every show I go to and it really gets to me. I hate to say it but I think all sellers need to give out info on each animal they sell. I know I would want info on something I didnt know anything about. YOu get these dummies that dont know nothing and they buy a snake and it turns out to get about 10 feet oh what do they do? Get rid of it because they didnt know it was going to get that big. I dont want to see us the ones who love our exotics lose them becaue people dont want to find out about them. I love all of my snakes and I will fight to the end to keep them. We need to do something about it and I am here to help any way I can.
Thanks, Shawn
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Here today and gone tomorrow.
MsRhinoviper@aol.com

Dear Scared! Don't get all your exercise jumping to conclusions. What should scare you is the erroneous reporting. My name is Roark Ferguson. I own a 7400 sq ft reptile/rescue and rehabilitation center. I am a member of SC state animal advisory review board. I own a serpentarium that maintain's the largest collection of reptiles in the history of SC (namely 1,100 snakes and 100 crocs). I was hired by the promoter to be the (headline) speaker as I make my living speaking on conservation issues. I was also hired as the venomous safety consultant to establish procedures/protocol and their enforcement to ensure the safety of all attendees. (Check out www.reptileandexoticanimalshow.com ) The Bristol show was a positive experience for all and was enjoyed by thousands without incident. I (as are others) are in the process of seeking legal remedy against the blatant lies printed in this garbage rag called the Washington Post. First and foremost I was there as a renowned speaker (animal planet, national geographic, comedy central, E-Entertainment) to lend credability to this inaugural event and help to ensure its success. I never brought a single venomous snake to that show for sale, NOT ONE!!!!!!! I did display one 15 king cobra at promoters request as it was part of a 6 month advertising campaign. This same cobra will be on exhibit at the Iowa state fair in approx 8 days. I repeat I did not bring a single venomous snake for sale. I did not bring a python to the show nor use one in my presentations. Not that there is anything wrong with that. They have much to answer for. The only way to attack my credibility was (as with others) was to fabricate. The conversation with the lady did not occur either. It was invented/embellished. All dealers were informed of strict protocol (18 yrs with experience. Several times I interceded and pursuaded dealers not to sell a gaboon or other exotic hots to inexperienced/marginally experienced legal age first time buyers. In fact I am well known nationally as an advocate for people's rights to keep exotics and am therefore a target of the HSUS, PETA, and the API. Anyone with a modicum of common sense can see this article for the biased/hack job that it is........First and foremost the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is one of the major eco-terrorists groups that has emerged in the past ten years whose sole purpose is to outlaw the private ownership, trade, marketing, consumption, hunting, etc., of all animals (possible exceptions for time being, canines/felines and all animals generally accepted by mainstrain public. To this end (like their fruitcake PETA brethren) they will advance their agenda thru local/national media as well as political channels. If you visit their web site and study it intently you will begin to grasp the magnitude of their motives and methodology. Remember there are two types of lies: 1) The outright lie! 2) The lie of omission which is withholding information that does not support predetermined agenda. The Washington Post is guilty of both. Thanks for your concern.

Um, you didn't actually send this to anyone other than this list, did you?

Katrina

Sorry, at first I thought it had been sent TO the Post, but I took a closer look.

The Post does has a habit of misquoting people.

Katrina

Sorry, at first I thought it had been sent TO the Post, but I took a closer look.

The Post does has a habit of misquoting people.

Katrina