Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I created a new post cause the the original is quite down the list. I don't know where all of you are from but in the area of Ontario Canada i am in, we had people come to the door to check that our dogs had their shots and all the proper tags a while back. If i'm remembering correct we had to pay them a small fee too (i'll check with the rest of the family but i'm pretty sure). At that time we had 3 dogs (the largest we put down due to cancer). It upset me a bit to have some stranger come knocking checking up on me like i was stupid or something, but now i realize that its very important for the rabies shots etc. to be completed and i guess there are some people out there that just don't do it...sadly. I still don't like having to pay anyone when i already pay big time for all of my dogs annual medical stuff, makes me wonder if they were legitimate or not, I wish i would have delt with them personally)!!!
When it comes to herps though, its easier to just ban them all together then setup any sort of screening program for potential owners. Just like pitbulls, rotties etc, anything with a bad rep, its always easier to ban......personally i know a few people with these types of dogs and they are big, lovable babies(the dogs not the people LMAO). What needs to be done is educate people a heck of alot more. Everyone thinking of getting an iguana should know that they are going to get BIG, if the kind of herp you want eats live prey then not only do you need to know how to take care of the herp but the prey also (i've got my crickets breeding....now i have more crickets than i do lizards to feed them to lol but the constant supply of babies is great). I'm not opposed to being licenced for dangerous herps (venomous etc) but it just feels like we need paperwork for everything we do these days and eventually we'll be so regulated all freedoms will be lost. Someone mentioned being licenced to have kids.......thats fine and all but what if they become so strict that they say i can't have children cause diabetes runs in my family? I've seen the little things turn into BIG things. A few incidents of mistreatment turns into new rules that not punishes but limits the rights of others who are innocent of misdoing.

If i need a piece of paper saying that someone believes i'm competent enough to keep a gecko, dog, gun etc, so be it. I can't exactly stop it, but i'm not keen on it thats all. Just my opinion. Sorry this was long.

Red

Hello Red
I agree with much of what you said, banning is the easiest way to handle fear of the unknown and that it will lead to continued restrictions of our freedoms and personal rights. However, I diverge from your thoughts when at the end you indicate there is nothing we can do. I believe this is far from the truth. I am unsure of the originator, but a quote my father passed on to me goes something like this... "All that needs to happen for anarchy to reign our lives is for good men to do nothing". Feeling we can do nothing or are powerless is the best weapon of those who would take away our freedoms. We should speak out, speak with and work with others to maintain our freedoms. Please feel encouraged that you are not alone and are not powerless. I hope I am choosing daily to act so as not to look back on my life to say, "I wish I had done more". Sorry for the soapbox
Greg

I guess i did sound rather pesimistic didn't i ?!? I do feel rather alone up where i am, theres very few places that even sell reptiles and fewer still who love them as much as i do. When i had my iguana (sadly passed and a hard lesson learned that not all vets are as educated as one might be lead to believe.....i knew more about the problem than the vet apparently did) I would take him everywhere with me, even to do my banking. Some people freaked out, others were really curious, but few even had a clue what he was. It felt great educating people on this wonderful reptile despite the many people who insisted he was a devil creature! If someone was to come to my door today and try to take away my geckos i would put up a heck of a fight for sure. I'm just not sure what i can do to prevent an all out ban on exotic pets. The only thing i can think of is to see if there are any reptile/exotic pet associations around here and become a member. Add my voice to the fight to keep my *family members* (Leo and Zeek-crested gecko-are family just as my dogs are, without the constant barking lol).
Thanks for your post......you reminded me that even if theres no one here theres people out there that love herps.

Red

Hello again Red
I am sad to hear you have so few herpers to collaborate with. I will go through some of the past posts and try to find some of the other successful strategies I have seen in the past here on kingsnake. Also, sometimes allies are found in familiar, as well as, strange places. Whoever owns one of the few shops would probably be a good point of contact. You may also want to start an "army of one" educating at schools etc. I began last year making several trips to local schools teaching about the leopard geckos I keep. It sounds like you have a passion for teaching. Believe me, I can't think of one elementary school student that would be happy banning leopard geckos you taught them to respect and understand. They would have a fit Children are a great way to get the word out. And in a couple of years, they can help you vote out the ding dongs causing the problems from ignorance . Soooo... if there is a way that I may be of support, please let me know. I can send a brief outline of what I have covered in these classes. In the meantime, take heart, your passion and love of God's creatures has given you a giant lead over the uneducated, whether they know it yet or not.
Greg