It is my LEAST liked part of being a snake keeper/breeder. Even after 30 years of having to kill rats and rabbits for my snakes I am still not "used" to it and it upsets me every time. I feed almost every day too since I have many many snakes. Being an all around animal lover this is very conflicting for me and extremely difficult for me to do. Yet I have to do it. It's funny in a way because I am otherwise a pretty tough guy, but when it comes to killing little animals I am a total wuss. I know that I will never get used to it. I often have to remind myself that these rabbits that I raise for my snakes only have a life because I am creating them for this purpose. It's a justification, sure, but also true. If I didn't raise them for this they would never exist at all and SOME life is better than NO life I'm sure. And just for the record, all of my rabbits and rats have very good lives up to the very end. They are caged, sure, but caged spaciously and are given healthful treats daily.
I was going to avoid this thread since this topic often becomes heated and it is pointless to add to that. So I will not discuss how I kill my rabbits and or rats, but it is quick and painless.
>>I personally despise having to kill my rabbits but I am not willing to take the risk of having one of my snakes bitten or scratched open from a panicky rabbit. I currently use the thumping method but I find it really hard for me to do so I am in the process of finding the equipment needed to euthanize them with carbon dioxide. Anyway, I feel I can speak fo rthe vast number of snake keepers when I say that killing any animal, including petential prey items, we receive no pleasure and find it hard to do. Todd
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Believe in yourself and your abilities and you can accomplish anything.
