Honestly, I am not trying to be harsh when I say this so please don't get upset, but if you eat meat you have probably contributed to immense suffering of animals. Much worse than any little feeder mouse will endure. Of course, free-range animals don't go through the horrible things that factory farms put their animals through, but they still have to die. I don't mean to get off on a soap box, really, but this is a valid point. A box of chicken fingers has a bloody history behind it.
As far as the mouse, as was stated earlier in this thread: the death is quick. Ever seen a croc take a meal? That's not quick. Nature has made constricting snakes ridiculously efficient at killing their prey. My ball was a sloppy eater the first few times, but last night she struck the mouse in about 10 seconds and it passed away in the next 10. She has become very precise and the mice don't suffer, they just pass out.
I'd love to get her on F/T for the sheer convenience of it (driving to the pet store is getting OLD). She won't take them though. I tried last night for almost 20 minutes as I have for the last month. I've tried everything and yes I do mean everything that's not an exaggeration. I have developed carpel tunnel syndrome from wiggling rodents in front of my snake!
I understand your compassion for the mice, as I am an animal lover as well. My boyfriend tries to keep me from watching that animal cops show because it always makes me so angryBut there is a vast difference between a hawk taking a field rat to her young and a person not giving a dog water for days. Nature created a food chain for all creatures, and rodents are pretty much at the bottom. Do not feel bad for things that are natural, but instead turn that compassion towards real cruelty and help take out some of these jerks who neglect and abuse their pets.
