Reptile & Amphibian Forums

There is a show on right now. I tuned in figuring it would be an interesting documentary on large constrictors, but instead it talks about how dangerous boas and pythons are in captivity. It mentions how Burmese are responsible for the deaths of the most pet owners each year! It also states that Green Anacondas have a determination to eat humans and they judge the size differance between men and women (Yeah, a determined snake with judgemental capability). I am not even done watching the show and I am allready furious.

I allready live in a city with strict exotic animal laws, and this type of show is what makes other citys do the same. These shows are based on opinions rather then facts becasue that will draw in higher ratings.

I just want to rant a little. I pretty much own at least one of each species listed on this show and I know many others that do also. This is the type of misinformation that causes the responsible keepers to get into trouble, and somehow it has to end. I wish I knew how we could make that happen.
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Billy
Reptile World
http://www.reptile-world.net

I just saw the show myself. My mom called me down and I was looking for the same thing (a good python program). When I saw the Scrub, I though "wow, there going to show rarer Pythons like Timors, Boelenes even".
All they did was talk about how huge snakes get and how dangerous they really are.
They also forgot to mention that all of the owners who were attacked were complete retards. Who picks up a freakin Burm and doesn't wash his body off of the rodent stench?

"Anyone considering getting a boa or python, there wild animals. They can never be tamed"
Its unfortunate that his Burm had to be stabbed to death because of this persons idiocy. I find it very hard to beieve this snake would make a feeding strike for no reason. He must of smelled like rat. I've picked up my 40lb boa on her hungriest of days and you know what? She flicks her tounge around and tastes who I am.
But animal planet praises his "clever" sister for stabbing this snake to death. That really got me going.

They didnt even show a blood python. rats.

I don't believe that the way they presented the show was good, but from novice to even expert owners these snakes are wild and this stuff happens.Now with the anacanda story sounds a bit fictional, but dumb asses going to mess with there snakes with chinchila hair all over you isn't so smart.But like you said it is a mark against us snake owners to make people try to outlaw exotic snakes which I definatly don't want to happen.

If my old lady ever saw that show, she'd never visit me at my house.. ever again. They were exaggerating the hell out of the whole issue. All that bullcrap just feeds the fire. Just like the whole pitbull thing. The 2 counties south of me have banned pitbulls because of this kind of nonsense. I have 3..and have had my fingers crossed ever since I got them.

I have a pit also and I get so much sh_t over it from all of my family because of my kid.Well she is the best dog, treated like she is my kid,and lets see someone try to come in my yard and kidnap my kid.Chihuahuas are number one dog bitters.

Lol, you're right ...Chihuahuas are frequent biters. I've had mine(chihuahua) for 3 years and in that time she's bitten the UPS guy, the FED-EX guy, the Airborne guy and the lawn guys(just pecks though). Actually, pitbulls are great with kids. All that crap about them is bull$h1t. A friend of mine who has a 3 yr old little girl, the little girl started stabbing one of his pitbulls with a screwdriver one day and the pitbull just thought she was playing and was jumping around and wagging his tail.LOL.Go figure how some people are so ignorant.Their lack of knowledge on any given subject, causes their stupidity.

I think pitbulls are kind of wild though. You do make valid points, dont get me wrong. I know they can be tame, but its a little different. No matter how tame they are, they will always have a genetic streik to them. Why do you think people use them as fighters? Along with dobermens and Rots. They have an edge to them no other dogs have. Typically, a tame pit will stay tame. But they can change. My neighbor had one, which I though was the nicest dog. Never barked or bit people. One day someone came by the house and the dog bit up her thigh. I would have never predicted that to happen. Its unfortunate because they are very attractive dogs. So why not get a staffy? They look the same to me.
Your probably right, your pit bulls probably wont ever bite anyone in their lives. But I have to laugh when people stick up for them, like they are completely tractable.
This might make more sense; compare a tame yearling Carpet to a tame yearling Ball (I own one of each). The tame Ball wont bite me, nor will the Carpet. But there is a complete difference in the two. The Carpet is a little more intimidating, and not so passive. Often, he will strike, with a closed mouth if I accidentally touch her tail. The ball could care less.
So the Carpet in this story will represent the pit bull. And the ball will represent a golden retriever.
The only difference is the yearling carpet cant do any damage. And those little mexican dogs bite, yap, and shiver to no end, but their bite is laughable.

They are, completely tractable.They are not wild. They are DOGS!I have to laugh myself when people don't do their homework(no hard feelings). They do have a mean streak in them though but it is almost always toward other dogs or animals. If you research the history of pitbulls, you'll see that any pitbull showing any kind of aggression toward people, was considered a cur and therefore never used to breed and reinforce the confirmation of this breed.

Now most any dog that sees an unknown person crossing into their territory will most likely defend their territory(Dogs are pack animals). What's unfortunate is that with the pitbulls most tenacious nature, they won't let go until it's sure it's won the fight, both being a curse and a blessing. Don't blame them for being courageous. I've owned and bred pitbulls since I was 12 and I'm now 28. I base my opinion off experience and research, not just one scenario or story I've heard.

One of my husband's relatives was severly bitten on the face by a spaniel who had been a calm family pet. If the dog had been a pit bull, I'm sure it would have been on the news. I think dogs just have unpredictable reactions to strangers sometimes.

I'm sorry, but I grew up with dogs and respected, accredited kennel owners, not back-yard breeders. I've spent a lot of time at dog shows, etc, so I'm not exactly unfamiliar with things, and in my opinion the Pit-Bull Terrier is totally unsuited for any environment where they may come into contact with small children.

Like it or not, these animals have been selectively bred for generations for aggression, NOT for docility! That's the bottom line. Disposition and temperament ARE hereditary.

For a so-called responsible adult to allow an animal such as this to be in close contact with a small child is, in my considered opinion, tantamount to reckless child endangerment. These are NOT, and should never be treated as, family "pets".

I often wonder about the sanity of some of the people that I see who own these dogs. In my town I see ten and twelve-year-olds walking around with Pit-Bulls, acting cool. It's an accident just waiting to happen. And believe me, things DO happen. Why do you think that these dogs have acquired such a reputation?

Sorry for the rant, and I know that it will upset some folks, but hey, I'm just giving the facts as I see 'em.

Cheers all!

Simon

I also watched the show. The may have been focusing on the negative aspects... but the aspects and views were none-the-less true. Burms DO kill people... though it was a stupid mistake on the owners part, and Burms are some of the sweetest snakes available... this is all true.
As far as Anacondas... well, if your'e stupid enough to go tracking them in their wild habitat....it's the risk you take. I agree they should have focused more upon the positive aspects of snake ownership... maybe some of this negative publicity will keep stupid people and little kids from wanting to keep these animals and screwing up and adding to more negative publicity and stupid laws. Just my view.

I do agree that the show had its good points, but what pisses me off is the fact that instead of listing some of the truths about these snakes (Such as most accidents are due to immature, show off type owners), they just kept hitting you with negative information because that is what keeps the ratings high. The media in general really stinks. It is responsible for so many "False Truths" that the average person beleives.

As for the comment of keeping immature people from getting a large constrictor due to the show, I dont think that would stop them. In fact, if they saw the show and thought the animals were really dangerous, that would give them more of a reason to show off.
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Billy
Reptile World
http://www.reptile-world.net

to Animal Planet (it's all I watch) and to snake owners...I'd say darn near 90 % of their shows about snakes and animals in general are positive, at least unbiased.
I mean, look at Stevie Boy and what he's doing. He is always focused on conservation. And Jeff Corwin, same thing. And I don;t think I have ever heard an untrue negative word coming from these guys.
Truth is, reptiles, especially huge boids, can be dangerous. I mean, don't WE get pissed off at pet stores for seeling a burm and not giving the right info to the new owner, and then it eats the owners dog? Then reptiles getting bad publicity? As I said, these animals are dangerous and should be handled in such a manner... but they are wonderful, beautiful, interesting, a challenge and joy to keep. In my opinion, just like a kid, a reptile is as bad as it's owner (parent).

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Randilyn -;,-
Desolate Gray: Reptiles