Unfair bias due to visiting a sick reptile breeder

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And a virus does not live on a person for 6 months. I can understand being cautious and paranoid about wanting to protect your investments, pets, and business/babies..
But we live in the age of science, and reason and enlightenment. Lets try to keep the heebie jeebies, "boy" germs, and fake cooties as child hood games.

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Since we're dealing with science, reason, and enlightenment, let's consider the fact that many human viruses remain dormant in one's system for the REST OF ONE'S LIFE. Many of them can and do reappear when one's immune system becomes compromised. Example: any virus in the herpes family (including chicken pox). Some viruses can reactivate themselves in one's saliva and continue to infect people with whom one comes in contact. Example: epstein-bar (one of the viruses that causes classic mono). Can we carry viruses that only affect other animals? Yes, but they remain harmless to us and we would never know they are there. Can you be carrying the virus that killed someone else's snakes? Not enough is known about that virus to say yes or no, but I believe the possibility exists.

Contact ed clark, joey capony, rick denman or clarks geckos, my guess is none of them would care if they were breeding jen's snakes.

You should have no problem getting any of them to "help" you out.

Of course, you then get to wear the I'm a Scumbag Too jacket, but it's a small price to pay. Right?

One guy turned you down because he doesn't want to take a chance. Don't get your knickers knotted over it.

Be patient, look around for other breeders or just wait until you can afford the male you want and then breed them yourself.

Honestly I don't know if I'd take a snake on loan from someone who had been at Jen's. I only have half a dozen ball pythons and I'm leary. None of mine have any real value. Someone who's life is in their breeding projects may well, as has been shown, feel quite strongly, and rightly so, about not working with you.

Your honesty is fantastic and don't feel bad about it. At least your word is taken as truth. Better honest than scum.

This story really disturbs me. Not the crying about the loan cancelation, but this outbreak and the freezing of her snakes. I'm fear for my snakes just reading the damn thing! :tears:

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Originally Posted by jorgasm

This story really disturbs me. Not the crying about the loan cancelation, but this outbreak and the freezing of her snakes. I'm fear for my snakes just reading the damn thing! :tears:

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I so agree with you! I looked at the pics, and I could not imagine having to do that to my snakes. I don't understand why they were not just euthanized. I went back to read the thread, but I know I missed bits & pieces. I do feel so horrible for her (Jen) having that happen to her animals. & I would be very terrified of it happening to mine. I actually had someone ask to breed his snake (a normal female) with my Mojave male in exchange for a Mojave baby, and I said no. I do not know him, and I have no idea if his snake is healthy or not. As a matter of fact, my Mojave is still in QT because I've only had him for 2 months, so it is also for his own snake's safety since the season is only a few months away (& he wanted to breed them as early as possible). We should really all be looking out for each other's collections. If I think that any of my snakes could possibly endanger someone else's or vice-versa, those snakes would never cross each other's paths.

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Originally Posted by Montessa Python

And a virus does not live on a person for 6 months.

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Carol can you honestly say that you know that as a known fact or are you just guessing?

I agree Jen's story is tragic but it only goes on and on because of one bad decision after another. For example she was called out on the 17th of last month attempting to sell her racks, then on the 24th she told the reptile community that they went to a garage. Last I read she was bashing those who have been on her side attempting to help...

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Originally Posted by Montessa Python

Okay Original Poster here...
I have been emailing Jen on occasion, and it is truly a sad thing that happened to her.

But why should I have to be marked OR stigmatized because I went to her house ONCE.

And a virus does not live on a person for 6 months. I can understand being cautious and paranoid about wanting to protect your investments, pets, and business/babies..
But we live in the age of science, and reason and enlightenment. Lets try to keep the heebie jeebies, "boy" germs, and fake cooties as child hood games.
I could submit cultures from my snakes, the building, and things from my home.
But I shouldn't have to.
Can any one here say they have NEVER been in casual contact with some one who had something bad happen to their collection? IBD, RI, or other even mites..
Just saying I empathise with her, and with the fellow who suddenly said "I can't take that chance."
But I and others should not be stigmatized for something that happened to another person and I was in her home once.

Carol

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This is wrong.
Have you heard of HIV?
HIV lies dormant in a human body for at LEAST 6 months. Some people live with HIV their whole lives without having AIDS.
You can not detect HIV after you receive it for approximately 6 months, thus disproving your statement.
A lot of food-borne illnesses also stay dormant for 3-4 months.

I can get backing on this information, so if you want it just let me know. ;]

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Originally Posted by Montessa Python

And a virus does not live on a person for 6 months.

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Parvovirus does...

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Originally Posted by MuzeBallPythons

I don't understand why they were not just euthanized.

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In her thread she said she couldn't afford to have them all individually euthanized.

You know it really irks me though sometimes all this feeling bad for Jen that this "happened". This just didn't "happen". This was a direct and horrendous result of someone rushing to expand a collection without due diligence. This wasn't some awful random, could not have been prevented thing. I'm sorry if that sounds like a harsh judgement but we are talking about animals dying and having to be put down here - not someone collecting rare baseball cards!

Look if you don't QT, if you rush into things it's not going to surprise a lot of us if you end up like Jen did. Roll that dice just one time too many on skipping QT or not being careful and this stuff will, not might, will happen. It might not be this devastating but you can't dance with the devil and not end up burnt. The sad thing for me will always be the living animals that pay the price for our human greed and foolishness.

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Originally Posted by SecurityStacey

In her thread she said she couldn't afford to have them all individually euthanized.

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As I recall her vet told her freezing, especially freezing larger animals, would be extremely painful. Something about ice crystals forming.

I believe her vet also told her he would make a house visit, and give her a price break, but she would have to pay for the drugs. I do not know how much the drugs cost, but I find it hard to believe the drugs themselves could be that outrageiously expensive.

She is asking for donations now, why not have asked for donations to pay for euthanasia drugs? People have pride but I surely would have asked for help if it meant a painless death for my animals.