NatPET Response to the NY Times

[Adam_Wysocki]

On February 1st, 2010 The New York Times Published an Editorial titled "Grappling With Pythons". The piece advocated a Federal ban on the interstate transport of pythons & boas and unfairly characterized snake owners as people who "often tire of these living conversation pieces" and "do the worst thing possible for the environment".

The article can be read in it's entirety here: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/02/opinion/02tues4.html.

The following is the response from The National Pet Association:

Squeezing out the Truth about Pythons

To the Editor:

In the Feb. 1st Editorial (“Grappling with Pythons”), readers may have been left with the impression that most snake owners at some point have a tendency to open up their doors and toss their pets away. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Snake owners are no different than dog or cat owners and many form close bonds with their pets. The fact that their choice isn’t popular or easily understood shouldn’t result in their being vilified by the actions of an irresponsible few.

There is little doubt that Burmese pythons in the Florida Everglades are a serious problem. Reports that suggest that some constrictors could possibly survive north of Florida are controversial. One fact is absolutely clear: an interstate transport ban on these animals won’t solve Florida’s python problem or stop irresponsible people from releasing snakes. It will only hurt responsible snake owners who are doing everything right.

Adam Wysocki
The National Pet Association
www.natpet.org

[MPenn]

Very nicely worded Adam!
Straight and to the point.

[j_h_smith]

Very good reply Adam, but we need a newspaper to take on our fight and run an article with the facts, not this nonsense we've been reading. People don't often read the "Letters to the Editor" section. Most will scan that section, just before they read the comics.

Thanks again!
Jim Smith

[Adam_Wysocki]

Very good reply Adam, but we need a newspaper to take on our fight and run an article with the facts, not this nonsense we've been reading. People don't often read the "Letters to the Editor" section. Most will scan that section, just before they read the comics.

Thank you Jim.

I can assure you that if getting a newspaper (or other media outlet) to run a pro snake ownership article was even moderately easy, it would be done. There are people working every day to make sure our message is delivered to the press, but the reality is that polling shows 8 out 10 Americans have a mild to severe fear of snakes. Papers play to the numbers and statistically anti-snake articles appeal to far more readers than pro-snake articles. Unfortunately, truth in media is more often than not dictated by words like "appeal" and "reach".

I'll have to respectfully disagree with you about the importance of the "Letters to the Editor" section. While average citizens may quickly scan or ignore that section entirely, legislators do not ... especially in the New York Times and other major papers. A response to the Times editorial if published will reach people that may be one day faced with deciding what the future of reptile ownership in America will look like.

Thank you again for taking the time to respond and for your efforts helping all of us!

Respectfully,
-adam

[j_h_smith]

Thank you Jim.


I'll have to respectfully disagree with you about the importance of the "Letters to the Editor" section. While average citizens may quickly scan or ignore that section entirely, legislators do not ... especially in the New York Times and other major papers. A response to the Times editorial if published will reach people that may be one day faced with deciding what the future of reptile ownership in America will look like.

Thank you again for taking the time to respond and for your efforts helping all of us!

Respectfully,
-adam

Adam, I agree with everything you said in the above quote, but I think we need to get the populus on our side. This will in effect, get our politicians on our side. We will never change the minds of our representitives without mass disapproval of these bills. We are nothing more than a fringe group to the politicians. We're "That Group", not "The Group", so we will never have the enflluence to change the machine's direction. But, if more of the mainstream took on our cause, the politicians would have to listen. We need to fight the good fight, even when we've been knocked down a few times.

I wish you and all that are fighting for us, the best of luck. It's a shame reality has nothing to do with them Congress Critters and their decisions.

Keep it up!
Jim Smith

[dr del]

Hi,

I just wanted to ask how much attention is being given to the issue in the reptile and fishkeeping magazines etc?

Have they been giving a more fairminded and balanced view to their readers to help mobilize those not immediately affected by the legislation?

And I totally agree on the reach of the letters to the editor page - and there does not have to be a current story on reptiles in that publication to justify writing one. It would flow just as easily in response to stories of bad science, political shenannigans or ads by PETA and the HSUS.


dr del

[Adam_Wysocki]

We're "That Group", not "The Group", so we will never have the enflluence to change the machine's direction.

That is exactly one of the goals we had in mind when we formed The National Pet Association (NatPET). When I visit congressional offices in DC or speak to members of the media, the message I deliver is that NatPET is a responsible pet owners group. The tactic shields our message from peoples personal fears, prejudices, and pre-conceived notions of certain types of pets like snakes, rats, tarantulas, etc. As a blanket advocate for everyone that owns any type of pet responsibly, we hope to bring a message that compliments the message of other species specific groups that might be discriminated against because of common fears of certain types of animals.

A perfect example of the effectiveness of our message was something that a senate staffer said to me. He said: "No one is going to stand up on the Senate floor and fight for people to be allowed to breed and sell snakes. But, it's easy to make an argument on behalf of responsible pet owners. Your message is reasonable because it's not about snakes, it's about people."

I don't agree with him that the messages of other groups aren't about people as well, but it just goes to show some insight into the mentality in Washington DC and the potential for The National Pet Association to be able to help now and in the future.

The National Pet Association Website: www.natpet.org
The National Pet Association on Facebook: www.facebook.com/nationalpet

-adam

[j_h_smith]

Like I said before, keep up the good fight. We're going to need it!

Jim Smith

[rabernet]

Like I said before, keep up the good fight. We're going to need it!

Jim Smith

Couldn't agree with you more - but guys like Adam, USARK and Pijac can't do it alone - we all have to step up to the plate as well and do what we can to help. I might not be able to help much monetarily, but I volunteered this past weekend at the USARK table at the Atlanta Repticon show and have signed up to help get the word out at the July show (Deborah and I will be running the table for them both days, and we WILL be recruiting volunteers) and I've agreed to do a couple of the Birmingham shows for them as well.

I'm sure that Adam and Andrew would LOVE to get more volunteers to help out in different parts of the country to spread our message calmly and maturely! I can't think of a better cause to volunteer for!

[jsschrei]

Excellent response Adam. Thanks for fighting for us!