"Prevent snake owners from using free puppies and kittens as food" post gaining tract

don't know how many of you use Reddit:
https://www.reddit.com/r/LifeProTips...prevent_snake/

i doubt the legitimacy of OP's story, but once again painting snake owners in a bad light. the comments are equally abysmal.

oh reddit....

Can't say I'm surprised.

I was trying to read through the comments and I even commented on a couple but that's honestly too much for me...

there have been some people prosecuted for it in the past.

While I find the use of cats and dogs as feeders abhorrent it is worth remembering there are people who keep various species of rodent and find our use of them equally as bad. The best thing we can do is treat both animals well and try not to rub other hobbyists faces in it.

I doubt that story is true, but even if it is, I have to say something I'm afraid people aren't going to like very much...Dogs and cats are animals, and no matter how much people love and cherish them, they are just that. Maybe some people value cats over snakes, but I don't. Now dogs might be at the same level, but only mine. I've seen so many "cute" pictures of cats and dogs holding dead snakes in their mouths. IMHO, feeding a python a puppy is no crueler then feeding a dog/cat a snake, or letting the animal kill one. Sure, snakes aren't as "intelligent," who cares? I love my snake just as much as my dog, and more then the cats I have owned in the past. If my snake, which I already owned and did not go out and buy thinking it needed these animals as food, ate nothing else, I would feed it a cat readily. Maybe not a dog, simply because most, even as puppies, are too big. A chihuahua size dog though? No more important to me than a snake. I'm really not trying to be cruel or mean here, but it all comes down to what we perceive as a "pet" animal and what we don't. People try to say that it's because dogs/cats are more intelligent, but pigs are more intelligent then both animals and many dogs/cats get fed pig-product or pork dinners. Plus, we eat them and some large snakes do as well.

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Originally Posted by FlynnTheBP

A chihuahua size dog though? No more important to me than a snake. I'm really not trying to be cruel or mean here, but it all comes down to what we perceive as a "pet" animal and what we don't.

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i agree to the main point of your opinion: animals eat animals, and the value we place on those animals is a personal belief. however supposedly these pets on craigslist are meant to be given to a loving home. but in my own opinion, just like with snakes, there are so many people that don't research and end up over their head with an animal they can't care for - mainly dogs. this adds to the current issue of craigslist adoptions. also, imo, there's no way a person that cares for their pet would place a CRAIGSLIST ad to rehome them.
this all ties into my disbelief for the OP. if you own a retic that big, there's no way you haven't established a reliable source of food, let alone the hassle of trying to ensure your feeders are acquired consistently. frozen is consistent, cheap, and hassle-free. it all smells like bologna to me, which is why i wanted to share.

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Originally Posted by dr del

While I find the use of cats and dogs as feeders abhorrent it is worth remembering there are people who keep various species of rodent and find our use of them equally as bad. The best thing we can do is treat both animals well and try not to rub other hobbyists faces in it.

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this is something i do forget. obvi i feed my pets rats, but i love rats and would love to have one as a pet. i guess some people can't recognize love for an animal and feeding your animal are not mutually exclusive.

Well look at it this way, in other countries, people eat cats, dogs, snakes, lizards and even rats. Now I personally couldn't feed a puppy or kitty to a snake but every culture is different. So while here, we would probably be shocked at eating a dog or cat, in other countries, they view it like we view chicken. I personally don't mind if someone does feed a dog or cat to their snake as long as they don't publicize it or glorify it. But I also don't particularly care to see feeding videos as it's old news after keeping snakes for 20 years. I did post pics of Caesar and Vick eating F/T chicks and quails but that was simply because it was their first time ever eating them. Since then, it's pretty much the same as rats, not worth posting now lol. It's one thing to post a pic of a snake eating a quail but a whole different ball game posting a dog or cat being eaten by a big burm or anaconda.

And yeah....reddit....like tumbler lol.

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Originally Posted by tttaylorrr

i agree to the main point of your opinion: animals eat animals, and the value we place on those animals is a personal belief. however supposedly these pets on craigslist are meant to be given to a loving home. but in my own opinion, just like with snakes, there are so many people that don't research and end up over their head with an animal they can't care for - mainly dogs. also, imo, there's no way a person that cares for their pet would place a CRAIGSLIST ad to rehome them.
this all ties into my disbelief for the OP. if you own a retic that big, there's no way you haven't established a reliable source of food, let alone the hassle of trying to ensure your feeders are acquired consistently. frozen is consistent, cheap, and hassle-free. it all smells like bologna to me, which is why i wanted to share.

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I also don't agree at all with deceiving someone like that. I would feel absolutely terrible if I gave anyone an animal that they promised to care for only to have it killed. I see the rabbits being fed regularly, but how often can she find dogs/cats? You're right, just doesn't make sense for feeding a snake like that. Often times these stories are circulated around by animal rights or anti-snake people/groups to push their agenda.

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Originally Posted by Sauzo

Well look at it this way, in other countries, people eat cats, dogs, snakes, lizards and even rats. Now I personally couldn't feed a puppy or kitty to a snake but every culture is different. So while here, we would probably be shocked at eating a dog or cat, in other countries, they view it like we view chicken. I personally don't mind if someone does feed a dog or cat to their snake as long as they don't publicize it or glorify it. But I also don't particularly care to see feeding videos as it's old news after keeping snakes for 20 years. I did post pics of Caesar and Vick eating F/T chicks and quails but that was simply because it was their first time ever eating them. Since then, it's pretty much the same as rats, not worth posting now lol. It's one thing to post a pic of a snake eating a quail but a whole different ball game posting a dog or cat being eaten by a big burm or anaconda.

And yeah....reddit....like tumbler lol.

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completely agree all-around, especially on the cultural aspect of animals and food. i think most of us that share feeding pics/videos are just excited with our pets thriving, not a sadistic way to show off.

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Originally Posted by FlynnTheBP

I also don't agree at all with deceiving someone like that. I would feel absolutely terrible if I gave anyone an animal that they promised to care for only to have it killed. I see the rabbits being fed regularly, but how often can she find dogs/cats? You're right, just doesn't make sense for feeding a snake like that. Often times these stories are circulated around by animal rights or anti-snake people/groups to push their agenda.

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exactly, the deceit behind it makes it all the worse if it's true.

The gestation in a dog is much longer, not to mention the litter yields exponentially less than a rabbit or other such lower animal... it's much more feasible to feed a rabbit or rat or some other type of animal. Not to mention a dog will reproduce maybe twice a year on average while rabbits or other lower rodents can do so 6+ times... Rabbits can get pregnant the day following the delivery of their litters.

Not to mention rabbits and lower animals have been domesticated for much less time than dogs. Domesticated dogs rely on us to some degree, and their intention has rarely been for food in the western world.

It could be true that someone does this but they are perhaps uneducated owners, have little access to supplies or information, perhaps are cruel, yotta yotta. We all know this isn't a common occurrence and it wouldn't be our first choice.

I call _ _! Owning a almost 20 year old snake the last thing I would do is feed somthing like a dog or cat. Who is going to go through all that trouble unless your a unstable mental case at which point i doubt they have the lifstyle that accommodates a Giant Snake. No matter how big your snake is XL Rats or Rabbits will do just fine and they start at $8 in NY. Sounds like another one of these animal rights Coo'ks talkin nonsense to me.
Now ive seen these things happen oversea's but thats another Topic of its own.
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Originally Posted by cayley

It could be true that someone does this but they are perhaps uneducated owners, have little access to supplies or information, perhaps are cruel, yotta yotta. We all know this isn't a common occurrence and it wouldn't be our first choice.

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you make excellent points as to why what OP's friend does is just not reliable as well as farfetched. while the possibility of an ignorant owner with a giant snake isn't unheard of, the OP just seems so beyond anything truthful.

I've seen frozen feeder pigs for large snakes. Now a pig is one of the smartest animals on the planet, even smarter than dogs. They say they are close to chimpanzees but they don't have hands and can't sign like a chimp, so they have no way to show you how smart they are. When you are frying up your bacon in the morning think about that one!

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Originally Posted by Mr Sully

Sounds like another one of these animal rights Coo'ks talkin nonsense to me.

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i'm inclined to agree.

Rabbits are raised for meat, and fed hay and Rabbit Chow. The diet is standardized, and clean.

Cats eat whatever, and the rodents they scrounge may have been exposed to rat poison. Most backyard breeders of puppies whot are going to hand off the animals to any responder from a Craig's List ad are probably feeding the cheapest food they can get.

Who in their right mind, would want to put that into a snake?

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Originally Posted by distaff

Rabbits are raised for meat, and fed hay and Rabbit Chow. The diet is standardized, and clean.

Cats eat whatever, and the rodents they scrounge may have been exposed to rat poison. Most backyard breeders of puppies whot are going to hand off the animals to any responder from a Craig's List ad are probably feeding the cheapest food they can get.

Who in their right mind, would want to put that into a snake?

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No one. I honestly don't believe that story for a second. It just doesn't make any sense at all, and it was obviously intended to get a rise out of people. If live mice can injure a snake, a cat/dog with sharp teeth and claws can do much more damage. I mean, that's assuming they are fed live...

Did anybody catch the video on Twitter a little while back of I think a big burm striking and constricting a fluffy brown puppy? I think it was a couple months ago.

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Originally Posted by Fraido

Did anybody catch the video on Twitter a little while back of I think a big burm striking and constricting a fluffy brown puppy? I think it was a couple months ago.

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NO what the heck!? is that where this post was coming from? after reading up on the video, it was a burmese owned by a man from china. i believe some parts of china have a different view on dogs (see: Yulin Festival), but the deceit of the owners is still so wrong.

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Originally Posted by tttaylorrr

also, imo, there's no way a person that cares for their pet would place a CRAIGSLIST ad to rehome them.

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That's rather harsh, while I agree there's a lot of shady crap that goes on there, it's a broad brush you are painting with. When I took in a pregnant stray that I found at my work, I used craigslist to find homes for the kittens and they went to really good people. I've also gotten and rehomed reptiles through craigslist before. One just has to vet the information, vet the person they are dealing with and take careful review of the animal before agreeing. Sorry to go off topic a bit but the generalization was troubling me.

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Originally Posted by AbsoluteApril

Sorry to go off topic a bit but the generalization was troubling me.

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i can agree it was a very negative generalization of something i myself have never looked into or done, and it makes sense that it would bother you. i didn't mean to be offensive, but i'm sorry it came across that way. :)

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Originally Posted by tttaylorrr

NO what the heck!? is that where this post was coming from? after reading up on the video, it was a burmese owned by a man from china. i believe some parts of china have a different view on dogs (see: Yulin Festival), but the deceit of the owners is still so wrong.

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I don't think that's where this post is coming from, but you never know. I thought I read something saying it's illegal to "feed dogs to pythons in China"? I was looking it up earlier today trying to find the actual video, and one article said that I think.

I did find the original person who shared it on Twitter, the guy removed the tweet (not sure about the account itself). Did you come across a copy of the video? It was pretty sad to see, super cute puppy. Thankfully it didn't show the snake eating the puppy, just the striking and constricting.

What I found most disturbing though, is the fact that people were joking about how "cute" the video was.

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Originally Posted by Fraido

Did you come across a copy of the video? It was pretty sad to see, super cute puppy. Thankfully it didn't show the snake eating the puppy, just the striking and constricting.

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yes i did find a copy online and watched it, unfortunately. as for the legality of it i'm guessing maybe those laws are not strictly enforced, because why would that person leave such an obvious trail to himself if it was a crime? idk sometimes people are dumb, this person is no exception.

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Originally Posted by tttaylorrr

yes i did find a copy online and watched it, unfortunately. as for the legality of it i'm guessing maybe those laws are not strictly enforced, because why would that person leave such an obvious trail to himself if it was a crime? idk sometimes people are dumb, this person is no exception.

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Yeah, I don't know, it was just a sad video and people like that are a great way to mess things up for normal snake owners.

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Nothing about food consumption in China surprises me. The people themselves eat puppies. My daughters who are half Chinese went to China to visit their grandparents. They told me a story about playing with a bunch of puppies every day and then one day the puppies were just gone. I did not have the heart to tell them what actually happened to the puppies. Supposedly black puppies are preferred. So, puppies being fed to a snake is absolutely no surprise to me. The snake itself probably has a place on the menu also. I am not going to judge them. The culture there can be very different than here. I have had to have a very open mind in order to live harmoniously with the Asian side of my family. I have just had to be very clear that some things that are done in China cannot be done in the US and definitely not in my house.

I would never under any circumstances feed a dog or a cat to any other animal. I just like dogs and cats too much. But it really is no different than feeding rodents. Or feeding snakes to other snakes. It's just not something I would ever do.

Ugh, I find people moralizing what animals are "appropriate" to eat or be fed to other animals without being cognizant of how their cultural context influences their view very trying. Pigs are just as smart as dogs and chickens and cows can be affectionate and pleasure-seeking, but it's okay to eat THEM or feed them/their by-products to other animals, right?

It goes without saying that someone deceiving people on Craiglist about the outcome of the "adoption/rehome"* is a total scumbag though. Come by your animal's food honestly or find a more responsible keeper to take the animal on. Primus.

*If the story is even legit, which who knows.

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Originally Posted by Nellasaur

It goes without saying that someone deceiving people on Craiglist about the outcome of the "adoption/rehome"* is a total scumbag though. Come by your animal's food honestly or find a more responsible keeper to take the animal on.

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this was my main problem with all of this; the comments were just so harsh towards snake owners in general. this is just a way for people to justify their hate for snakes and snake owners as well, just another news story painting snake owners in a bad light.