Reptile & Amphibian Forums

{Dear Uro-people;
The only reason that I've posted this here is that Uro's are the only reptiles mentioned by name in the press item. Please be aware that this may result in an undue amount of ill-informed attention being temporarily focussed on your particular speciality.
Cheers & good Luck,
Wes}

WBAL (Baltimore, Maryland) 19 May 05 Family Pet Could Be Dangerous To Children, Pregnant Women
Baltimore: Some lizards kept as family pets can cause a devastating illness -- 70,000 people a year get salmonella from them.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, lizards -- more specifically, uromastyx -- can test positive for salmonella. For families with children under 5, salmonella can have far-reaching results, including meningitis.
For public health reasons, Maryland law regarding the sale and distribution of reptiles is very specific. However, the 11 News I-Team found a lack of compliance on the part of retail operations, both big and small.
The I-Team took a hidden camera into stores looking for a warning notice, which is supposed to be posted within 3 feet of each display of reptiles in accordance with Maryland regulations.
The notice warns of salmonella with a special caution for pregnant women, people with serious health problems or children under 5. Sellers are also required to give a copy of the notice to the purchaser of a reptile or have the customer sign a ledger stating that they have read the document.
In April, a Petco store in Owings Mills had no caution signs at all and the employee handling the reptile we attempted to buy was visibly pregnant. The I-Team alerted Animal Control in Baltimore County, where Petco and some of the other stores were located and alerted them specifically about the pregnant employee
A spokesman for Petco said he isn't sure why the warnings were not posted in its Owings Mills store, but it has now reinforced the law with all 740 of its stores nationwide. The company also said the pregnant employee had spoken with her doctor, who gave her permission to handle the reptiles.
A salmonella expert said pregnant women should be very cautious, but the most serious warnings are about young children. For anyone handling these animals, proper handwashing is vital.
Reptiles that produce salmonella include lizards, snakes and turtles.
Family Pet Could Be Dangerous To Children, Pregnant Women

And salmonella can also be present in raw chicken but you don't see any warnings posted in the grocery store meat section for pregnant women to stay away from raw meat and poultry. I really hate these scare tactics that some "special interest" groups use as an excuse to ban certain animals because they're not cute or cuddly like puppies and kittens. Misinformation has resulted in many "uncuddly" species getting a bad reputation because they look scary or could be dangerous. Like bats loving to get tangled in human hair (which they don't) or that the Great White shark craves human flesh (they don't). Why can't people just use common sense?
Sorry about the rant, but stuff like this really does irritate me and makes herping a lot harder and more expensive for all of us.

Thanks for the article, it was good to know.
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1.1 Mali Uromastyx (Ra and Isis)
1.1 Satanic Leaftail Geckos (Diablo and Samael)

I agree with you completely. Non-herp people look at reptiles as something repugnant and/or potentially dangerous. This subject has been beaten to death on many forums and websites. One study, which I read a year or so ago, said statistically, horses caused the most injures or deaths followed by dogs. People certainly don't respond negatively to dogs in this way. I look at it like this, my reptiles are in my house, don't make any noise, do their business in their own cages (in my house)and are not a threat to the public. Dogs, on the other hand, are heard barking, some are running loose, the s%$t on our lawns and as such pose a threat to the human population, particularily children, but nobody wants to ban them. It's a joke. I have had dogs, cats, horses, goats, sheep, birds, ferrets, chickens, geese and ducks throughout my lifetime and I must say I really enjoy my herps more than anything.

Pam

I agree with what you both have said.But most people dont see herps as cute and cuddly.People usually base there opinion of an animal by how "cute" it is.If herps were fuzzy and farted rainbows everyone would love them.
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1 Saharan named "Flick"
1 Mali named "URO" We will never forget you button!

Additionally I was under the impression that in order to survive salmonella required warm , moist conditions. Hence it is a concern (NOT a reason for banning) with reptiles such as turtles, Iguanas, etc. but not really for the desert species since properly housed there is no place for the bacteria to grow.

I agree with all the prior posts. I do not understand why the government feels it necessary to "protect us" from ourselves. My theory is if people are stupid enough to do things they know nothing about (like playing with a turtle and then sticking their hands in their mounths) they pretty much deserve what they get (small children excluded ofcourse).

Elizabeth
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1.0 Mali Uro Archimedes
0.0.1 Egyptian Uro Zuberi Mosca Khu (Mosca)
0.0 Fish
0.1 Sulcata Minnie
1.1 Iguanas Flik and Loki
0.1 Newfoundland Jasmine (RIP)
0.1 Feline Winter
Indiana & Wisconsin

Farting rainbows!!! I was laughing so hard. I was wondering if I could teach mine to do that, but of course I would still be missing the fuzz...

Pam
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1.1.4 varanus acanthurus brachyurus
1.1 varanus acanthurus acanthurus
1.0 varanus storri
1.1 u. macfadyeni
1.2 u. ornata
1.1 u. ocellata
1.2 rhacodactylus ciliatus
1.1 hyla chrysoscelis

Nothing a few well-placed cottonballs couldn't fix.
Hee, a white fuzzy lizard. That would be kind of cute
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1.1 Mali Uromastyx (Ra and Isis)
1.1 Satanic Leaftail Geckos (Diablo and Samael)