Hi Guys,
This is my rough rough draft to my final essay paper for college. I would like it if you would read it over and tell me what you think and give some idea for changes. If the paper is good enough and makes since I would also like to submit it to the U.S Fish and wildlife. I hope the paper is strong enough to make an impact and support all of us reptile lovers from the big businesses to the little guy who just enjoys having a couple snakes!!! let me know what you think!! Thanks guys!!! This is just a rough draft, i haven't finalized it or put in all my references!!!
Preserve the Different, the Extraordinary, and the Vulnerable.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife service has been trying to put a ban on importation and interstate transport of snakes. This is the U.S Fish and Wildlife service’s first step in trying to ban snake ownership, some states already have banned the larger breeds of snakes. At first glance it looks like they are only trying to ban large snakes such as reticulated pythons, rock pythons, and Burmese pythons. This, however, is not the case. The government is not only targeting big species, but the entire species. So, not only will larger species be affected, but also much smaller species will be affected too, including ball pythons, red-tailed boas, and dumeril boas. The effects are even broader than that, if this passes, the ruling will have serious effects on the whole reptile hobby. In this essay there are three reasons as to why the government should not put a ban on reptile ownership or interstate transport. First, we need to preserve a species that could be endangered or become extinct in the wild. Next, the bans violate our rights as stated in the Declaration of Independence, the right of liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Finally, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service has no right to ban snakes because they make great pets. Snakes are a great animal to own. Snakes are very educational and fascinating.
Snakes homes are being destroyed. There is a need to preserve snakes that could be endangered or near to extinction. Snakes live all over the world. Each species of snake has a different type of habitat. All of these habitats are being ruined and turned into highways, houses, and shopping centers for the human race. Snakes are losing their homes and their food supply. Bringing snakes into people’s homes and raising them as pets saves them from harm. In the wild, they will end up dead one by one. People, who bring these snakes into captivity, are keeping them one more step away from extinction. If this ban passes people will no longer be able to keep these snakes. People would also no longer be able to get these snakes to save them. It is the human population’s responsibility to save these snakes; after all it is the human population destroying their original homes.
Another reason not to pass this ban is it goes against our constitutional rights. According to the very document this great nation is based upon, the Declaration of Independence, in this document it says we as American citizens have the right of liberty and the pursuit of happiness. People who like to raise snakes have the right to do so and there should be no ban to stop that. There is no harm being done with bringing these snakes over here and breeding them, or by keeping them as a pet. The federal government has no business interfering with out liberty and pursuit of happiness. When asked, David Collings, a snake breeder, owner of Rainbow’s R Us said,” We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Keeping my snakes is enjoyable to me (2008)!”
Finally, snake ownership and interstate transport should not be banned because snakes make great pets. Snakes are great pets for many reasons. Some reasons are as simple as to why people own a cat or a dog. That is snakes are beautiful animals. Snakes can come in many colors and sizes. Another reason is a snake has a very easy feeding schedule. A snake generally only eats once a week. Snakes also live in a cage, so they do not mess up the owner’s house when they are gone.
Snakes are also very educational pets. In comparison to the age of the earth, humans have very recently disconnected from a lifestyle of living outdoors and observing nature fulltime. The last few hundred short years has changed humans from being totally immersed in nature, living outdoors among the animals, to living indoors in climate-controlled environments and eating only processed and precooked meals. Instead of hunting and foraging, work at mostly indoor jobs and then shop for sterile food products. If people did not have pets, many would never experience any connection to our wilder origins. The more exotic and different the animals are in captivity, the more people are provided with a valuable link to our past.
By owning snakes people learn how nature really is. Snakes still hunt their food in their tanks. People can sit and watch a snake smell and hunt the food in their cage. Snakes need special habitats set up for them. Some snakes need branches for climbing; some need a certain amount of humidity. Some snakes need big pools of water to swim in. The whole process of owning a snake is very educational. These animals also allow snake owners to share this experience with friends and neighbors, who otherwise might be irrationally fearful of snakes. Being around snakes can help people overcome their fears and be respectful of, not afraid of snakes. Then people will agree that snakes should not be banned. Pet snakes can be used to educate, by taking them to schools, showing them to people who have never been around one. By showing people how to care for them and letting people know how they live. Let people ask questions about the snakes. Everyone should have a snake as a pet, seeing snakes are the world’s most silent pet. A snake cannot bark, meow, or scream.
According to the United States Humane Society (HSUS), snakes are dangerous. They say this because there has been a few near-fatal and a few fatal incidents over the years involving boas and pythons (2001). Many people do not own snake but do own dogs, cats, and horses and so on (Telecky, 2001). According to statistics human deaths are more common with some of these more traditional pets rather than a pet snake. For instance, horses cause approximately 219 deaths per year, while boas caused none. Another instance is dogs caused 14 deaths per year, where all snake species together caused less than 4 per year. These statistics prove that snakes are not very dangerous to own. Snakes are not dangerous as long as people are responsible with them. Most, if not all, snake-related injuries or deaths are due to irresponsible handling of, or caring of the snake.
The United States Humane Societies (HSUS) also say snakes carry salmonella, and that is why they should be banned. Snakes can carry salmonella, but if cared for properly, they do not (Silver, 2001). Statistics show that more cases of salmonella come from eggs and milk rather than any reptiles including a snake (Kaplan, 2007). Owners of snakes need to keep their snake and cages cleaned and disinfected. The bacteria are in snake feces and if a snake lies in its own feces it can contaminate its body. A responsible owner would never let their animal lay in its own feces. Owners need to be responsible, take care of their animals and clean their cages (Silver, 2001).
In conclusion, the government should not ban ownership or transport of snakes, because they need to be kept and bred so they do not become endangered or extinct. The United States spends millions of dollars every year to save a species in the wild from becoming extinct. But, in this instance they are spending money on helping a species become instinct. There should be no banning of snakes because it’s our right to have them according to the Declaration of Independence. American citizens have the right to keep these snakes. There is no reason for the federal government to ban the snakes. There is no proof that the snakes are any worse than a cat or a dog or any other animal for that matter. Finally, these snakes also make great pets and are a very educational animal to have around. A snake can be a great experience for anyone. There is so much people can learn from a snake. Most people have no idea how to care for a snake or even how they act. Being around a snake can be a wonderful experience for anyone, especially those who haven’t had a chance to be around them.
Snakes are not your usual pet. You cannot take them out to play ball or chase a stick in the park. Most snake owners would not let their pet sleep in their beds. But on the other hand, a snake won’t chew up your table leg or whine at six in the morning to be taken outside. A snake won’t bark at the neighbors every time they pull in their driveways or walk outside.
“If it turns out heaven is run by snakes, a whole bunch of us are in trouble. Remember, we are all God’s creatures, so it’s possible that when your soul arrives at St. Peter’s gate for its pre-induction physical, some snake will be there giving everyone who passes through the once-over. “That’s him!” the snake will shriek as you approach. “That’s the guy who sliced off my head with a hoe!”
G. D. Gearino, Raleigh, North Carolina
