Snakes are fashion accessories or "cool"...

Um, no.

I e-mailed this chick and told her she was lame for considering snakes to be objects or trends vs. living things...she e-mailed me back and basically cussed me out for having the "nerve" to confront her on it.

Anyway, I was thinking perhaps she deserves some more e-mails from snake enthusiasts so she'll quit being a dumb*ss.

http://denver.craigslist.org/pet/171511213.html

I'm cool with having a herp-wrangler at a birthday party where it's an educational event, but I envision the "brain child" behind that post just drops off a bucket o-snakes and takes the cash.

Somebodys gonna get bit. Somebodys gonna get bit.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Freakie_frog

Somebodys gonna get bit. Somebodys gonna get bit.

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And then someone will get sued...

and then herpkeepers world wide will get trashed

(hey! this is like the 3 wird game!!!!)

WOW ....


I am at a loss for words. :(

Neil

This is what I sent her:

I find your ad about burmese and ball pythons disgusting and demand you remove it immediately. Snakes are not fashion accessories and to see them advertised as such turns my stumach. The fact that balls and burms, docile and friendly snakes, are meant to make someone look tough totally removes the snake's dignity and right to be appreciated for what it is.

It's the way that they are advertised that I find worse than anything else.

Sam

Hi! I saw your ad!
I just wanted to ask you a few questions:
Do you plan on telling the buyers/renters that no matter how tame their snakes are- if you harass and stress them out at 'parties' where 'god knows what' will be around that they will become agitated, and most likely bite. Also, could you tell me whether or not you plan on informing the 'buyers' about how big a burm will get? I mean, i know a 20ft burm around the neck is hot and all but...
Also, will you be planning to tell them just how long these 'bad' and 'hip' little creatures will live? You know, the little punksters will probably have PTA meetings and soccer matches in the time it takes these LIVING CREATURES time to get into middle age. Who, then, will have time for the massive burm or ball python?
What kind of person advertises their pets, creatures that intrust their lives with, as fashion accessories and cool or hip items. The only thing that's going to happen to these animals is being dumped in the woods or possibly sold-yet again-or killed (when it bites some twat's hand). Which, I rather a snake be dead than forced to spend hours upon hours outside of a climate controlled habitat where it can feel safe and secure and not inhale god knows what at those 'parties' where all the 'bad' kids will wear them.
You are a sick and disgusting individual with no respect for creatures that would in the first place rather be left alone than prodded and poked by the stupid, cruel, and immature people that would be dumb enough to purchase one from you.
Woe to the animals that reside in your home, I can only imagine what type of care you're giving them now if you think this is 'safe'. Honestly, you could probably get sued.
Good day.
Sincerely,
Ansli Pemberton.


Email i wrote. hope it sent. blah. sick :cens0r:'s

Darn, my e-mail won't send. Someone give her a link to here. I hate that stupid you-know-what.
Sam

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Lovable sam

Darn, my e-mail won't send. Someone give her a link to here. I hate that stupid you-know-what.
Sam

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No...please don't give this person a link to BP.net. We are NOT here to hunt down unsuspecting folks and jump on them for poor snake care or attitudes towards the animals we love.

If she finds this site, she should find a place that is inviting and safe for her to learn how to properly care for and respect these animals. Not a thread full of people wanting to rip her head off and feed it to her burm.

I totally understand your frustration with the ad and its intent. It's appalling. But nasty letters telling her how stupid she is and what a bad person she is are not going to help one single snake in her care. If anything, it will just harden her heart to the community that truly respects these animals and she will never be willing to learn anything better.

I hate it when people say stuff like that. They're right of course but I'd like nothing more than to wrap her round my wrist and fling her about with a bunch of 5-year-olds.
:)Sam

Sass. Well, prehaps you're right and my computer knew it because it wont let me send via computer only by going through mac.com GRAH! people and their insanity.

I've seen quite a few of these ads, the fact is these classifieds are quite common and renting snakes for parties, photo shoots, music videos and movies is growing in popularity. You would be surprised at how many of these reptile party planners are out there under the names Prehistoric Parties, Slithery Celebrations, etc, etc.


Some treat the animals with respect and do more of an educational show and tell, some demand proper care and handling of their snakes and require a certain temperature be kept at all time, as well as remain present throughout the process, etc. Others could care less what you do with the snakes or who or how they are handled as long as you pay the fee!! Pay the fee, sign the waiver, take the snakes and bring them back in 2-4-6hrs!

It has it's positives and negatives. One positive I see, is it may open a few doors and more interest for herps in general. The public in general is no longer just seeing these snakes on the Discovery Channel eating a croc in the Amazon or on the local news killing the neighbors cat. They see more and more regular people like you and I interacting with these beautiful snakes without the guarantee of instant death by either being crushed or poisoned by that deadly Ball Python!

The cons are, the possible neglect to the snakes themselves, if someone were to get bit that positive PR can quickly turn negative, the dangers of some idiot endangering the snake and others, like most fashionable pets the more impulse buyers in the hobby the worse it will be in the long run for the snakes and the true hobbyist.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ssscales

I've seen quite a few of these ads, the fact is these classifieds are quite common and renting snakes for parties, photo shoots, music videos and movies is growing in popularity. You would be surprised at how many of these reptile party planners are out there under the names Prehistoric Parties, Slithery Celebrations, etc, etc.


Some treat the animals with respect and do more of an educational show and tell, some demand proper care and handling of their snakes and require a certain temperature be kept at all time, as well as remain present throughout the process, etc. Others could care less what you do with the snakes or who or how they are handled as long as you pay the fee!! Pay the fee, sign the waiver, take the snakes and bring them back in 2-4-6hrs!

It has it's positives and negatives. One positive I see, is it may open a few doors and more interest for herps in general. The public in general is no longer just seeing these snakes on the Discovery Channel eating a croc in the Amazon or on the local news killing the neighbors cat. They see more and more regular people like you and I interacting with these beautiful snakes without the guarantee of instant death by either being crushed or poisoned by that deadly Ball Python!

The cons are, the possible neglect to the snakes themselves, if someone were to get bit that positive PR can quickly turn negative, the dangers of some idiot endangering the snake and others, like most fashionable pets the more impulse buyers in the hobby the worse it will be in the long run for the snakes and the true hobbyist.

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Pros and cons both well said :clap: . I do think that if these were dogs and cats and hampsters that were just being pawned off the PETA people would be all over them. People tend to have a different view of reptiles and don't really seem to put them in the same class as dogs and cats. They require more attention and more care than a dog or cat for the most part.
This type of behavior is totaly unexceptable. And I only hope that some happens that will teach these people that reptiles are animals with needs and feelings and can stress. My olny hope is that this leason comes with out expence to the animals or to keepers that truly care and look out for their Herp companions.

::lamenting the loss of common sense; was it ever common?::

If used properly it is a good thing for people to see Reptiles in general in a different and positive light. Educational classes, more educational videos, etc, etc.

Unfortunately these things (especially when you read an ad in those words) end up bad for the snake and reptile lovers! I think reptiles/snakes as pets for the masses would be great for 5 minutes and then would add up to a lifetime of negatives.