Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was checking out the Burmese forum a few minutes ago and I read that NY is banning "dangerous" exotic animals. I've also heard that Chicago has banned reptiles and I know there are other states/counties that have bans on keeping large snakes or in some cases, all reptiles.

It makes me sick that we and many other responsible keepers have to take this crap because of dumba**es who get venemous or giant snakes because they think it'll make them look cool or whatever...and because of stupid keepers who don't secure the cages and then have accidents (I read about a 12-year-old boy who was strangled in his sleep by the family's Burmese, which they let roam free around the house). Oh, and let's not forget all of the people who see a cute little baby snake and are either misinformed by the pet store people or just don't think to find out how big a Burmese or a retic can get (and in such a short time).

Dangerous? Yes, venemous and giant snakes can be dangerous when people aren't careful (and even sometimes when they are), but so can dogs. Don't get me wrong; I love dogs, but isn't even a relatively small dog more likely to seriously injure someone (small child prob.) than a giant snake is? I've had some nasty run-ins with some even nastier Pekingeses and Chihuahuas, and once I was almost bitten in the face by Grandma's very tame Sheltie.

Dangerous? Last night, I saw two bodies lying on the side of the road near an accident. Irresponsible drivers are much more common than irresponsible snake owners (yeah and even responsible drivers can get into really bad accidents); let's ban cars!

This kind of crap makes me seethe...so many people use misinformation against us and our snakes. Several people have even told me I was bad and that my snakes were evil...their basis? The story of the snake in the Garden of Eden...omfg I wanted to scream.

sorry...it just...gets under my skin like an insect crawling through my muscles...

later-
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.Owen.:.

"That Owen kid...man...he really loves that snake of his." ~Owen

The car example was just ignorant, no offence. But you have to remember, people as a whole fear snakes, not dogs. People are much more likely to ban thigns that they fear, and mis-understand, and unforunately that is the way most people are. Including the ones that make the rules. I agree though, it is very unfair that many people must pay for other peoples ignorance. However hopefully in time, people will stop being so ignorant and learn the facts, and then the rules will change. All we can do, is help people learn sooner then later.

You'd think that a culture that values education as much as we do would not be so blind about something like this...

Yeah you're right; the car example is a bit extreme, but I still think people should consider it: more people are hurt by dogs or while driving than are hurt by snakes, and I doubt it's just because more people have dogs and cars than have snakes.

If the government wants to protect us, they should keep working on some of that homeland security. If the government wants to protect us from ourselves, they might as well convert to Communism and tie us all up.

If we want to keep our snakes, we should get cracking on educating some people (yes I know it's been said a thousand times) and the educated will hopefully spread their knowledge.

later-
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.Owen.:.

"That Owen kid...man...he really loves that snake of his." ~Owen