Wow is all I have to say

[Michelle.C]

That is amazing that the HSUS just completely say dont own reptiles at all. Its gotten to the point that the own society we go to to protect our animals, we now have to fight against. They are completely unreasonable and i can't believe they even published this article.

Don't confuse the HSUS with the ASPCA. The ASPCA (the society that protects animals), actually went head to head the HSUS a while back; they were taking donations and not providing promised care to animals.

HSUS is kind of like PETA. They are all talk and want all the credit they can possibly get and do no work. The ASPCA are the "good guys", so to speak. They actually step in and help the animals. As far as I know, the ASPCA also doesn't make a stance one way or another towards exotics pets. Any opinions I've ever gotten from them were individual and generally all felt "if you can care for it properly, we're okay with that."

[Wretched Deviant]

This is pathetic...it's so...stupid. I don't know whether to laugh or cry...both I think.

[Eventide]

Doesn't surprise me one bit. They'll use any angle they can, and spread any falsehood they can, to get their way.

Y'know what's even better? They don't like the entire pet trade. The following quote is taken directly from their website.

"The HSUS opposes the sale of dogs, cats, and other animals through pet stores and other commercial operations."

So...they don't want any animal bought or sold. Interesting. I wonder just what they want to do with them, then....

I've perused their spendatures from last year (they post their tax papers on their website). It's sad where most of their money seems to go: salaries and lobbying. And on another paper (accessible from their website) they state multiple times that in 2008, they helped just over 70,000 pets. I thought that a rather pathetic number for a company whose assets total nearly $200 million (again, from tax papers).

Let's take a huge leap of faith and assume that this article from HSUS is accurate (difficult, I know): "Estimated number of cats and dogs entering shelters each year: 6-8 million." Wow, they helped 70,000 pets. That's really something to brag about for a group supposedly devoted to helping animals....

[Nate]

"The HSUS opposes the sale of dogs, cats, and other animals through pet stores and other commercial operations."

This makes a lot of sense if you look at it from their angle. And honestly, I agree with it, to an extent.

Have you ever worked at an animal shelter? like, a real rescue center?

Dogs and Cats ARE over populated, and there are disgusting puppy mills out there that help to drive that commercial industry. Little Sue has to have that $1,000 dollar puppy at the puppy mart because it just looks so cute. 6 months later, we'd receive it at the SPCA.

There are a LOT of good animals in shelters - and I learned that first hand.

Now, I DON'T discount good dog breeders with high standards. They do exist, and I know that there are good people that are willing to pay top dollar for an animal with lineage records. I get that, and don't hold any ill feelings towards reputable breeders and people that want history. After all, we do that all the time in the reptile industry

[Eventide]

This makes a lot of sense if you look at it from their angle. And honestly, I agree with it, to an extent.

Have you ever worked at an animal shelter? like, a real rescue center?

Dogs and Cats ARE over populated, and there are disgusting puppy mills out there that help to drive that commercial industry. Little Sue has to have that $1,000 dollar puppy at the puppy mart because it just looks so cute. 6 months later, we'd receive it at the SPCA.

There are a LOT of good animals in shelters - and I learned that first hand.

I agree there are way too many dogs and cats, both in shelters and in the street. However, HSUS's own stance on pets seems to be that no animal should ever be bought or sold. Sounds like they're okay with adopting pets, but that's it. So what happens when there are no more animals to adopt? Oh, hey, cool, no more animals kept as pets! Hooray!

[Crazy4Herps]

immunocompromised people avoid all contact with reptiles and items the animals have touched

It is my personal opinion that people with weak immune systems should be outdoors a bit more often around all the "harmful" bacteria and disease. That's how the immune system works; exposure.

And salmonella my foot! I never wash my hands after handling snakes (with the obvious exception of QT'ed snakes, but that's for their health, not mine) and have let them hang out in the kitchen and dining room for years and the only person in my household who has ever had salmonella acquired it from undercooked eggs.

The only thing in this article that I do not believe to be BS is the bit about importation. I am 100% for banning WC reptiles. Imo it's cruel and brings parasites into existing collections. But the rest of this article is nonsense.

[accidental777]

I think this reptile ban is much bigger than anyone realizes. Anyone remember HHR669? I do, this bill wanted to ban ALL invasive non- native species of animal. This is scary. Just think of s373 as a precursor to ALL of our pets going bye-bye.
On one of the first hearings I watched for this bill, I remember the HSUS spokesperson mention that they wanted to go straight for banning ALL species of python so they didn't have to come back and make amendments. What will stop them from adding bans to other animals as well?

[BPelizabeth]

Wow I think I need to send them a picture of my 83 yr old mom..who has a pace maker playin with my snakes. Or even better maybe my friends 5 year old that sits on the floor and plays with the snakes. Good grief!

[snakemastercanada]

YouTube - HSUS care about animals?

[icygirl]

And salmonella my foot! I never wash my hands after handling snakes (with the obvious exception of QT'ed snakes, but that's for their health, not mine) and have let them hang out in the kitchen and dining room for years and the only person in my household who has ever had salmonella acquired it from undercooked eggs.

That's like saying, most people don't get killed in car accidents, so I'm going to drive recklessly without a seatbelt.

Please, be a little hygiene conscious. We don't want the salmonella statistics to go up because reptile owners were irresponsible.