Pythons confiscated from a Cleveland home

[AaronP]

The Article stated that the owner had them illegally and frankly I don' care how good of care you took care of your animals, if you aren't following the local laws you're doing nothing but hurting the people who do follow the rules.

[MazAnth]

I have to chime in here.

A. This HAS NOTHING to do with the executive order Ohio passed. You NEED a PERMIT in Cleveland! He refused so the city took them.

B. This guy has had some of his animals at the Cleveland show a few times. Just to show them off and from what i have seen of them and after talking to him for some time he should have lost them!

C. All that said it's still a black eye for all of us.

[shelliebear]

I agree he should have followed the law--thanks to everyone who clarified on that. I appreciate it.
What makes me angry though is just the neighbor lady. While I wouldn't wish harm on her, I do wish she'd stop harming herself with irrational fears, and instead of being terrified of the neighbors choice of pet, perhaps discuss with them why they chose them, their behavior, etc.
Or go to a herp society or zoo and see some of the animals.
You don't have to act like she did, staying up all night afraid that the snakes would eat her. :/

[The Hedgehog]

I agree he should have followed the law--thanks to everyone who clarified on that. I appreciate it.
What makes me angry though is just the neighbor lady. While I wouldn't wish harm on her, I do wish she'd stop harming herself with irrational fears, and instead of being terrified of the neighbors choice of pet, perhaps discuss with them why they chose them, their behavior, etc.
Or go to a herp society or zoo and see some of the animals.
You don't have to act like she did, staying up all night afraid that the snakes would eat her. :/

I was trying to stay out of this, but this comment has to be quoted.

Sometimes fear is just unexplainable. Some people had bad experiences, and others just have irrational fears of snakes that will NEVER be solved. Trust me, I've educated a few of my friends on snakes and while they understand that my ball pythons would never hurt them or try and "eat" them, they still don't want to see/think/hear about them. For that I respect that they were willing to listen, and they respect that I won't push the issue.

You have to understand that WE as a group are a select few people who enjoy this hobby and know that these snakes aren't man-eaters like the news organizations and government make them out to be. So therefore because we are so select, we have to live by a set of rules, and he didn't live by them. So whether you're mad at her or not, she didn't do anything wrong, except call the wildlife service because she's afraid. If he had the permits the state required, this story wouldn't even be on the news in the first place.

[shelliebear]

I know she didn't do anything wrong, but I struggle to watch people who have a phobia of something not try to get over it.
In my opinion, life is too short to be scared enough of something that it keeps you awake all night.
All I was saying was my personal opinion. I didn't mean she did anything wrong.
Honestly, I used to have a terrible fear of bees, and so one day I went and sat outside next to where a wasp hive was.
I didn't get stung once. They don't bother me so much anymore.
That's all I meant, was she shouldn't be so afraid of them that it interferes with her life.
Sorry I worded it poorly.

[Freakie_frog]

I was once told that for every negative aspect someone is told about a person or thing they must be told 5 positive aspects to counter act that one bad..So think about that when you're talking to people about or hobbie. Be informational and knowledgeable, know about the current laws and about how they effect our hobby and our families.

I was once the guy at work with to many snakes now People barely even remember that I have all of them..why because the negative is gone and they are no longer snakes they are simply my animals..

[tonkatoyman]

The Article stated that the owner had them illegally and frankly I don' care how good of care you took care of your animals, if you aren't following the local laws you're doing nothing but hurting the people who do follow the rules.

Aaron you are right. The comment I made was with the assumption that the permit law was new. However when we found out that it has been in effect since 2002 then in my opinion he or they have no excuse or recourse except to stand and wave by as the animals are hauled off. Also Freakie-frog and I were at lunch and something he pointed out...the animals were apparently allowed to roam the back yard unsupervised. If he knew he had fearful neighbors...that angers me even more because of the damage it does to the Reptile community.

[broadude]

I know she didn't do anything wrong, but I struggle to watch people who have a phobia of something not try to get over it.
In my opinion, life is too short to be scared enough of something that it keeps you awake all night.
All I was saying was my personal opinion. I didn't mean she did anything wrong.
Honestly, I used to have a terrible fear of bees, and so one day I went and sat outside next to where a wasp hive was.
I didn't get stung once. They don't bother me so much anymore.
That's all I meant, was she shouldn't be so afraid of them that it interferes with her life.
Sorry I worded it poorly.

Shellie, Shellie, Shellie..you went and sat next to a WASP hive? I think if you had investigated wasps and their behaviors you would have realized that they are NOTHING like bees. You were extremely lucky if you sat next to a hive and weren't disturbed.


Back on Topic... I agree that the owner should have followed the laws in his place of residence to avoid this kind of spotlight on the community.

IMO, ignorance of the laws is usually the undoing of the hobby herper. Venders and breeders that don't abide by the law, usually do so deliberately according to my observations of the things posted on different forums.

[shelliebear]

I didn't say I wasn't disturbed, I just didn't get stung.
I was kind of hoping I would get stung anyway, so the fear would go away.
They annoyed the heck out of me though! XD
Anyways...sorry for off topic.

[zina10]

I didn't say I wasn't disturbed, I just didn't get stung.
I was kind of hoping I would get stung anyway, so the fear would go away.
They annoyed the heck out of me though! XD
Anyways...sorry for off topic.

If they were really wasps, trust me...if one had stung you, you wouldn't have kept sitting there waiting for more !