Anybody awake?

[Skiploder]

Though I will add a side note as far as the argument of dogs being a greater threat and not receiving the same attention, cause thats not true at all.
Fact is, it is starting to become more and more difficult to own dogs through laws, insurance companies, regulated communities and apartments. Whether or not you're a responsible owner.

I own a stafforshire bull terrier. In some areas of this country it's illegal to own one. I pay extra on my homeowners insurance because of him.

Not directed at you Sariel but the argument often comes up that pet reptiles have killed far less people than pet dogs, pet llamas, pet rocks, etc.

Who cares?

When I was a kid, I remember my dad (who is a Vietnam combat vet) arguing with a veteran of WWII who was a friend of my grandfather.

This older gent had asked my dad about the Battle of Dak To. When my dad was explaining how horrible it was the WWII vet made a comment about how it couldn't have been that bad - that they total American loses in Dak To (entire battle) didn't even equal what his division lost in one hour in the Ardennes.

What sticks in my mind is that someone would dismiss the loss of one life as inconsequential. In some people's minds, the loss of 10 lives becomes negated if you compare it to the loss of 100. 100 becomes irrelevant when compared to 1000 and so on.

If 100,000 people a year die from domestic ferret maulings it should not negate the loss of 10 people killed by rabid clownfish. The argument for responsible ownership of clownfish should not be debated or put on the back burner because of the imminent ferret threat.

So in a ten year period, 150 die from death by dog. Eight die from death by reptile (Giant constrictor and Venomous Exotic). That 150 does not negate the 8. Period.

If only one person had ever died from a captive giant constrictor or venomous reptile, it should have been cause enough for people to call for restrictions on ownership. With the exception of USARK's legislation in North Carolina, the Reptile Nation has done nothing, proposed nothing to self-regulate ownership of dangerous animals.