Reptile & Amphibian Forums

DAILY HERALD (Provo, Utah) 16 September 04 Home business generating concern (Tammy McPherson)
Since Jeremy Stone was five years old, he has been fascinated with snakes.
That fascination has led to the creation of a home-based business breeding snakes worth thousands of dollars. Each year, the herpetoculturist produces up to 300 rare boa constrictors and ball pythons, and he sells the babies over the Internet for $8,000 and more.
Now the Orem resident is making plans to build his dream home in Lindon, along with a new building on the property to house his snakes. But his plans have been put on hold because of recent neighborhood opposition.
"I'm only here because of snakes, because of their fears," Stone said, adding that many of his current neighbors also have fears of snakes. But, he added, there have never been any complaints about his home-based business because the snakes have never gotten out.
The Lindon City Council will be meeting on Tuesday to consider Stone's plans for his future home and business. They have invited a representative from the Department of Wildlife Resources to talk about what type of regulations might be placed on this type of business.
Lindon Mayor Larry Ellertson said the issue is on hold because city leaders are trying to keep peace in the neighborhood, but they also want to allow Stone to have his property rights.
Many in the Lindon neighborhood signed a petition when they found out a "python ranch" would be moving in on their street. But opposition has died down since Stone explained his business at a neighborhood meeting.
Many had pictured snakes hanging from trees in nets, but he said the neighbors will never see the snakes. He wouldn't let them outside because the snakes are valuable and he's afraid of theft. Stone has bought a high-tech, motion sensor security system for the new building which will call his cell phone if anything comes in or out.
Lindon resident Linda McBride said she was against his reptile business at first because she didn't know what the dangers would be and was upset she hadn't heard anything from the city about the potential new home-based business in her neighborhood.
"I'm OK with it now," she said. "I don't like snakes, either."
Lindon's home business ordinance does not require any neighborhood notification for businesses like Stone's. But because of the concern some of the residents had in this instance, the city leaders will be discussing adding notification to the ordinance.
Though many neighbors have said they are OK with the business now, some still have a issues with the business.
In a recent city meeting, Lindon resident Brad Mortensen said he was concerned that the city had no limit to the number of reptiles they allowed in a residential area, yet they had a set number for many other animals, such as turkeys and cats. He said he was also disturbed about the potential of more businesses coming into the area.
"I'm concerned we're taking a commercial business and putting it in a residential area," he said.
Stone said his proposed business does follow Lindon's home-based business regulations and that there are a number of other businesses in homes in that same neighborhood. He said he thinks the limit on the number of animals should focus more on public health and limited space. The city does not have a limit to the number of guinea pigs or fish one can own, he said.
Home business generating concern

Personally, I'd be more concened if somebody was moving in to my neighborhood with a couple of Pitbulls, but I guess that's just me.

Why? News media get to your head? They are as good as their owners. It is the only breed of dog I would trust with my daughter.

They are wonderful dogs, give them a break please.
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Chad Bachman

Funny how people worry about the wrong things (example plane crashes more than car crashes).

I still think most of us agree that a ball python posts much less danger to a neighbor than any dog. Even small dogs will often chase you down and bite you and it will probably be a worse bite than a big ball python. I don't know a lot about pit bulls but have met someone put in the hospital by one and have yet to meet or even have heard of anyone sent to the hospital by even a boa constrictor much less a ball python.

The owner & the dog should be put to sleep. I've met a couple hundred pitbulls, and all have been "puppy dog" friendly. Yes if it is a people mean dog, it is much more dangerous than any Ball python, but to discriminate a breed for its owners neglect or wrong doing is wrong (no matter what type of animal).

My favorite animal in the world is an APBT, so naturally I will defend them.
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Chad Bachman

me personally am not afraid of pit bulls. but then again i share my house with a very large one too. when i moved to florida in april my neighbors were very nervous around my dog due to the fact the media portrays them as blood thirsty dogs that live to kill people. now nearly 6 months later they love my dog and no longer have a fear of pit bulls. i know of not one person ever put in the hospital from a pit bull attack. however my aunt was treated at the er from a standard poodle bite (took 15 stitches). so should that breed be banned due to the perceived threat that i feel now? i however do know ton's of people that have been hospitalized in car wrecks, should cars be banned as there isn't a perceived threat but an actual one there. the attempt to ban Stone's business is only because people love to hate snakes period. not because they are scared the snake is going to hurt them, or the fact they don't want home based business around them. if he ran a dot com out of his house nobody would give a dang. it's all about the discrimination we as herp keepers have to fight every day so that our love of this hobby can continue. well that's my 2 cents.
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2.0 het pied
1.1 het albino
1.7 normal
1.0 american pit bull terrior
1.1 damn taco dogs (ankle biters)
1.0 grey cat

a BAD dog is MADE not bred, support the American Pit Bull Terrior as the greatest breed of dogs on Earth!!!!!