Stress and people.

[MontyAndMelissa]

So, this story isn't so much about my ball python, but this has happened to her too. I recently got a chameleon. While I was in the store, the chameleon was obviously stressed out. She quickly crawled up my arm and under my hood. People were telling their kids to "Come look!" and "touch it". She was obviously stressed. She didn't want anyone near her and was hissing. How do you inform people to back off without sounding too rude, and while trying to calm down your reptile? I've had people walk up and touch Montys head without asking before. Monty is headshy and will jerk her head back, which usually startles people. I had one woman tell me to get my snake under control. I yelled at her to not walk up and touch random animals. You wouldn't touch a random persons dog without asking, why would you touch a snake?! It is infuriating. What would you guys do in this situation?

[Daigga]

Unfortunate truth about owning animals; people always want to touch. My brother has decided to take the unconventional method whenever people walk up and pet his dog without asking and just pets them back. Weird, but it gets the point across. I can't believe someone would just wander up and touch an unknown snake on the head, most either know better or aren't willing to touch at all.

[Shann]

I don't take my animals out in public unless I'm specifically educating people in which case I explain the "rules" before I even bring them out. I personally don't see the point in taking reptiles into stores because it runs the risk of stressing them out or exposing them to other things.

[Jhill001]

Who cares about being rude. Go up to someone's show dog and try and pet them without asking and see the response you get. Tell them to back the heck off because they are scaring it. It's really not their place to be grabbing on something anyways.

[bcr229]

Secure the critter into a critter keeper, cat cage, snake bag, tub, etc. if you don't want people touching it. If you have the animal out in the open people are going to assume it's safe for them to interact with it.

[magicmed]

knit a snake sweater and have it say "I bite" on it :p

[jclaiborne]

I generally don't take my reptiles out with me. Sometimes if its really sunny and hot out Ill put a bluey or my beardie on my shoulder and walk around my block but thats the extent of it. If I have to transport them anywhere I use a kritter keeper/condo. I honestly have never had an issue with someone asking to pet/touch my reptiles or even my dogs for that matter. That being said I don't think it would be out of line or rude to just firmly say "please don't touch my (insert animal type here)l" and if they keep on then well I would have a few choice words for said person. Maybe I just don't look friendly or approachable hahaha.

[Daigga]

I generally don't take my reptiles out with me. Sometimes if its really sunny and hot out Ill put a bluey or my beardie on my shoulder and walk around my block but thats the extent of it. If I have to transport them anywhere I use a kritter keeper/condo. I honestly have never had an issue with someone asking to pet/touch my reptiles or even my dogs for that matter. That being said I don't think it would be out of line or rude to just firmly say "please don't touch my (insert animal type here)l" and if they keep on then well I would have a few choice words for said person. Maybe I just don't look friendly or approachable hahaha.

I used to have my beardie on my shoulder whenever I went to get the mail in warm weather. I ended up stopping that after someone in a car stopped and asked if they could hold her to get a picture while still in the car... They weren't interested after I said they could only get a picture if I held her which I found very suspicious.

[anicatgirl]

Yeah it's one thing if you offer, but I would just calmly say "Please don't touch my animal. You are stressing it out." And risk being rude. If it's between my animal being stressed and some random strangers thinking I am rude... Well, rude it is! I never EVER pet anyone's dog or cat or the like without asking if it's OK. THAT is rude....

[jclaiborne]

I used to have my beardie on my shoulder whenever I went to get the mail in warm weather. I ended up stopping that after someone in a car stopped and asked if they could hold her to get a picture while still in the car... They weren't interested after I said they could only get a picture if I held her which I found very suspicious.

That is shady! See nothing like that ever happens to me. Thats why I say I must just look mean or something. No one even asks to pet my dogs, most of the time they cross the street when I pass by. I'm not complaining though. Make it easy for me haha.