Reptile & Amphibian Forums

DAILY HERALD (Provo, Utah) 05 April 07 P.G. bans ball python breeding (Laura Giles)
Pleasant Grove said no to ball pythons on Tuesday.
At a quarter to midnight, council members voted 4-1 not to allow the serpents to breed in home-based businesses in Pleasant Grove. The ordinance would have allowed animal husbandry of unique and exotic animals in a single-family residential area.
Residents James and Pamela Cantrell, who requested the ordinance so they could raise the reptiles in their home, have been working with the city for five months.
"The only reason I think is compelling to go against this is the property values," said Councilman Bruce Call, after resident Herb Carlson expressed concern that property values would fall if the snakes were allowed.
The matter had been put on hold while city staff attempted to include a classification of exotic, non-dangerous animals and strict guidelines for use in a home-based business. The classification was to have included non-poisonous snakes, amphibians and turtles.
Resident Melanie Aird spoke against allowing the snakes, saying she was concerned about salmonella, odors, how waste is disposed of and waste water drainage.
"Cats carry 17 diseases that can be transmitted to humans; reptiles carry one," said Pamela Cantrell in response.
"It's just not a residential issue. This should be in a farm area," Aird said. "These are families with children."
Carl Clark, whose son lives in the neighborhood of the proposed business, raised the issue of accountability.
"I've raised a lot of animals in my life. No matter how hard you try, they escape. Who will be responsible?" he said.
Clark's wife, Leonette, said residents in the area were angry the city was considering allowing the snakes.
"They're going to be selling their places," she said.
The Cantrells assured the council that issues of odor, excrement and safety would be dealt with according to the strict standards outlined in the proposed ordinance. The standards came from the National Reptile Improvement Plan. They said the only way for snakes to get out would be for someone to open the drawer they were in.
The Cantrells' business was to have 50 breeder snakes, each housed in individual bins in one room of their home.
"I don't think this is the kind of business for a home," said Councilman Mark Atwood, noting that though ball pythons are not dangerous, people do mistakenly believe that they are.
"We don't know what we'll do now," said James Cantrell after the decision. The couple indicated that they will either end their business or move to an agricultural area.
P.G. bans ball python breeding

please can someone give me a list of the 17 diseases cats can give to humans.

Hello Pouncake, I will try and find out some of th CAT human pathogens. One is a fetal baby killer! A protozoan infection that cats carry in their gut. Toxoplasmosis a terratogen. SPECIAL NOTE!!!!!!!!!! That is why pregnant women should NEVER clean a litter box. Cat scratch fever is sepsis related to bacteria carried in their mouth and on claws. This sent my grandmother to the hospital for aggressive IV antibiotic therapy. One little scratch about 1/4inch long from her HOUSE pet! fever of 104F a little longer and she probably would not have made it!! Oh and this stuff is reported by Emergency rooms to the Center for disease control. CDC Should be researchable and accessible but likely for a fee! Should be able to present statistics! Lets not forget RABIES virus, rocky mountain fever, Lyme disease, distemper. Rickettsias Bartonella There are likely WAY more than 17! But most of these would be true of any mammal. Oh and lets not forget Diabetics. One good scratch on their foot and they could loose it. I had a patient that lost 60% of his foot secondary to a simple cat bite! All he essentially had left was part of his arch and his heal. All from his pet cat! LETS not forget that the greatest threat to US native wildlife is the domestic cat!! God Bless, lee van hyfte RN < For the record. I own a cat, and love her dearly! Here are a couple of links http://www.thepetcenter.com/imtop/bite.html http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/toxoplasmosis/factsht_toxoplasmosis.htm http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/default.htm

Hello All, I am not sure if this was your intention but Idaho is ID not IA. Iowa is IA. Very sad situation no matter where it is!! As i always say "what they don't know won't hurt them" Go on about your business do not violate state laws etc. and do not cart your animals around in Public. "never underestimate the power of simple minds in large groups" ie: OUR GOV'T God Bless, Lee Van Hyfte <

And methinks perchance that it should have read: UT Press - the newspaper was from Utah (I assign titles based on the paper, not the source of the item). Please put it down to this poor ole Canadian not being exactly 'au fey' with all things related to state-abbreviations ... though you would think that after doing this for 5 years, 'something' would have sunk it past the helmet liner!
I'll do better.
respects
Wes