Venom 911

[Vypyrz]

I was watching this show on AP called Venom 911. I think the overall concept of the show is good and kudos to those who put their own lives at stake to get the anti-venoms to where they are needed, but the thing that makes me cringe is when they show the cases where "hot" owners are bitten by their own snakes. I remember one episode that they showed one guy who got bit in the stomach by a cobra he was putting back in a tub. Last night they were showing the Venom 1 crew attending the Daytona Expo "just in case" and they ran into the same guy, so what do they do? they re-cap his incident and show new footage of him handling cobras. And then they go on to show one of the calls that came in while they were in Daytona about another "hot" keeper who decided to handle his black mamba alone and got tagged 3 times and how the Venom 1 crew had to get the anti-venom from daytona to somewhere near Tampa before the guy died. And it ended with the guy and his wife talking about how they will always have the mambas despite the risk. Somehow, it seems that these people who allow themselves to be put on these shows for making these types of mistakes will inevitably hurt the hobby, especially on a show produced by Animal Planet. Just my thoughts...


edit to add: Also last night they responded to a call about a large "poisonous" snake in some bushes. When the Venom 1 crew found it they pulled out a Boa. The guy says," Wow, this looks like a Peruvian Boa, about 7 foot. And a beautiful one. This is probably someones pet..."

[Jhussey]

I've seen this show and the episode you're talking about. I don't mind the show. I know the job they do, I am an EMT and an AEMT so animals and emergency medicine always interest me. The thing about the show is that it is there for entertainment, and as with most shows there has to be that aspect of drama. Hence the repeated showing of the guys snake bite. I used to get frustrated by shows that did that, like Killer Aliens and Fatal Attractions also on AP, but ehh I'm over it, let them show whatever they want, people who believe everything they see on TV need help anyway.

[FIREball]

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue is actually looking at getting rid of the Venom 1 team due to budget restraints.

I am not sure of their actual call volume but Im sure if they are cut the tasks will be pawned off Animal Control who isn't as passionate about it as MDFR's crew.