Anyone work at a shelter, something that really irks me about BPs in shelters

[SlitherinSisters]

Why the heck can't breeders adopt from shelters!!! It's so frustrating! I just emailed yet another shelter about a BP, sometimes I just offer my advice-don't advertise the BP as a het pied if you don't want someone to adopt it for breeding or resale. Anyhow, I emailed about a BP that has been in the shelter for months, I'm thinking it was at least 6 months ago that I first I saw it on there. In the email I stated that I was a breeder, used my website email, etc, and asked why I wouldn't be a candidate when I was clearly capable of caring for the animal. Although opinionated, I stated that I was way more experienced than any first time owner and the BP would be given an optimal living environment from day one, not a month or two later when the snake still hasn't ate, has bad sheds, is dehydrated, or the new owner gets tired of having it and all the problems and puts it up on craigslist.

It's almost like shelters have a copy paste for this question. Reasons we don't adopt to breeders:
1) You keep them in tiny tubs and they never get to be social or happy
2) The babies will just end up back here / you're just adding to the problem
3) You will resell the snake to make money off it.

*sigh*

I would like to hear from someone who volunteers/works at a shelter about their opinion. It just seems like a breeder would be the ideal home, but maybe I'm crazy!

[ShortStack]

They never get to be social or happy? When was the last time they interviewed a BP owned by a breeder? I mean really, I think a healthy, fed, well-kept snake is probably a pretty happy snake. I'm just now learning more about them in the hopes of having some in the future, and even I have figured that much out.

[SlitherinSisters]

They never get to be social or happy? When was the last time they interviewed a BP owned by a breeder? I mean really, I think a healthy, fed, well-kept snake is probably a pretty happy snake. I'm just now learning more about them in the hopes of having some in the future, and even I have figured that much out.

Trust me, I've heard some pretty ridiculous things from the shelters in my area. One told me that BPs will become depressed and stop eating if they are kept in 'tiny' enclosures and never socialized. I understand that people think it's cruel to keep BPs in tubs, I get that, but to say that they become depressed.....It took everything I could to simply correct them by saying that's entirely untrue and leave it at that. I was talking to them in person and I just about died laughing!

[joepythons]

I would not even mention being a breeder.I would have a freind go and adopt it for you .

[ShortStack]

It just seems logical that a breeder makes a good owner. Obviously if you're breeding, you're able to keep them alive. Therefore, you probably have a pretty good idea of what you're doing, or else you wouldn't be able to keep breeding. You wouldn't be adding to the problem, but helping to reverse it.

[DellaF]

I agree with you. I used to work and volunteer at the Humane Society. They were really funny about who got to adopt what. In the same sentence 8 to 10 dogs were put down because the place was over run. It was even worse for the cats. Me as employ couldn't take one single animal home with me because I already had three. I did sneak and get a kitty that I fell in love with my mom adopted it for me dropped it off at my house lol.

I think they just have it in there head that breeders just add to the population of unwanted pets. The irresponsible pet owers ruin things for the people that really truly care about animals no matter what they are.

[SlitherinSisters]

I would not even mention being a breeder.I would have a freind go and adopt it for you .

If I ever see one that I have to have, I'm doing that for sure! If they want to be jerks they can have that BP sit in there office till they find a "good owner".

It just seems logical that a breeder makes a good owner. Obviously if you're breeding, you're able to keep them alive. Therefore, you probably have a pretty good idea of what you're doing, or else you wouldn't be able to keep breeding. You wouldn't be adding to the problem, but helping to reverse it.

Yeah! That's what I thought! I *used* to think that they would prefer adopting to a breeder, but apparently not. In my area at least, there are very few BP that end up in shelters, they are even somewhat rare to find on craigslist. This month was crazy, there was three on there!

It's sort of like the argument that people need to stop breeding rats because there are so many rats in shelters/rescue. I can think of a real good way to find them "homes".... Unless they were clearly pets, no, but if they are crazy wack jobs, like most shelter/rescue rats, supper time!

I agree with you. I used to work and volunteer at the Humane Society. They were really funny about who got to adopt what. In the same sentence 8 to 10 dogs were put down because the place was over run. It was even worse for the cats. Me as employ couldn't take one single animal home with me because I already had three. I did sneak and get a kitty that I fell in love with my mom adopted it for me dropped it off at my house lol.

I think they just have it in there head that breeders just add to the population of unwanted pets. The irresponsible pet owers ruin things for the people that really truly care about animals no matter what they are.

I knew there had to be someone on here! It does seem like they have odd rules about who can and can't adopt. Whenever I go look at cats I say that I have way too many as it is and when they ask how many I have (four) they say, oh you have plenty of room for a few more!

I suppose I understand why they assume that all breeders, no matter the species, are bad people and just adding to the problem. And good point, irresponsible people to cause a lot of problems.

[angllady2]

You should ask them when the last time was they saw a "socialized" BP on a leash at the park.

Ask them if they've ever seen your snakes or been in your home? How do they know what your snakes live in ?

If you are only adding to the problem, they should recommend and pay for having the snakes "fixed" to prevent more unwanted pythons.

If they think you are just going to re-sell it, why don't you ask them how long that snake has been waiting for someone to adopt it, and why if there are soooo many people out there waiting to "buy" this snake from you one of them hasn't adopted it before now.

I hate narrow minded people.

Gale

[el8ch]

You should ask them when the last time was they saw a "socialized" BP on a leash at the park.

lol, I'm imagining an off-leash Snake Park right now... So many social and happy snakes.

But really... I have owned and had the opportunity to work with animals for my entire life (farms / animal hosptials) and not once has an 'unwanted' animal been refused to a good home. I myself am a firm believer in adoption and have enough barn cats to prove this. The politics behind the operation of many shelters is ridiculous and leads to the destruction of so many good and loving animals.

Its a shame that a small group of individuals who have abused the system have ruined it for the rest of us.

[SlitherinSisters]

You should ask them when the last time was they saw a "socialized" BP on a leash at the park.

Ask them if they've ever seen your snakes or been in your home? How do they know what your snakes live in ?

If you are only adding to the problem, they should recommend and pay for having the snakes "fixed" to prevent more unwanted pythons.

If they think you are just going to re-sell it, why don't you ask them how long that snake has been waiting for someone to adopt it, and why if there are soooo many people out there waiting to "buy" this snake from you one of them hasn't adopted it before now.

I hate narrow minded people.

Gale

That about killed me!

They are really narrow minded. I'll have to bring those points up next time I go to the shelter or send an email! All great points

lol, I'm imagining an off-leash Snake Park right now... So many social and happy snakes.

But really... I have owned and had the opportunity to work with animals for my entire life (farms / animal hosptials) and not once has an 'unwanted' animal been refused to a good home. I myself am a firm believer in adoption and have enough barn cats to prove this. The politics behind the operation of many shelters is ridiculous and leads to the destruction of so many good and loving animals.

Its a shame that a small group of individuals who have abused the system have ruined it for the rest of us.

No kidding. Gosh, now I feel like a terrible owner, I should be talking my snakes in public terrifying people so my snakes don't get depressed in their tiny plastic tubs. I wouldn't want my snakes to become food aggressive, snake aggressive, or bite someone because they were never socialized!