Media fail!

[Kinra]

They might not have even showed the guy they interviewed what the snake looked like. They probably found some poor pet store clerk like someone suggested earlier, told him the story about an escaped boa and he responded based on the false information.

I don't completely buy that. He was holding a ball python during the interview and that's too much of a coincidence for me.

[sgath92]

I hate how the media portrays these animals. Ignorance is the main cause. I am thinking about presenting a presentation in front of our city counsel to change their ordinances ref vicious animals. Because they have constricting snakes listed but it does not specify. I think if people were better informed they would be less scared of Balls. I am also thinking of putting together a gig where I will travel to schools and other locations to do presentations on these animals so they are better respected in communities. Has anyone done this before if so tips are welcome. I love animals and if I can provide information to others on what kind of animals they really are it might make it a little easier for the Balls future.

Every urban municipality near me has a generic "no constrictors" ordnance. Though it is only enforced against large constrictors, and no one seems to care that pet shops in city limits carry both constricting Colubrids and balls. It all started when one large suburb enacted an animal ordnance on exotic pets that was then copy and pasted into the law books in major municipality after municipality in the region. Hasn't hit the more rural communities yet. Thankfully there are loop holes for educators and entertainers, but it forces the average pet owner to either break the law or move to a moral rural location. Local governments don't seem to care if "no constrictors" is broad enough to outlaw local garters. The response is basically "Why can't you just own a cat or a dog like anyone else?"

[SpottedBOA]

Every urban municipality near me has a generic "no constrictors" ordnance. Though it is only enforced against large constrictors, and no one seems to care that pet shops in city limits carry both constricting Colubrids and balls. It all started when one large suburb enacted an animal ordnance on exotic pets that was then copy and pasted into the law books in major municipality after municipality in the region. Hasn't hit the more rural communities yet. Thankfully there are loop holes for educators and entertainers, but it forces the average pet owner to either break the law or move to a moral rural location. Local governments don't seem to care if "no constrictors" is broad enough to outlaw local garters. The response is basically "Why can't you just own a cat or a dog like anyone else?"

Our ordinance was made because we had an exotic pet store move into our city and they had two big burms in the front window and they wanted them out of the city.

[lance]

Are people really this retarded??

Lance

[TomC]

Yes sadly people are this retarded. I had absolutely no experience with snakes 1 year ago and I saw a girl walking with a snake around her neck. I stopped to admire it and talk to her some and she told me it was a red tail boa. This did not look right to me at all but I was not certain so i didn't say anything. I noticed it was a little over 3 ft long so I asked her how old it was and she said it was 8 years old. I said don't boa's get a lot bigger than that. She said she kept it in a small cage so it would not get big and that is when I knew she was crazy and I excused myself and walked away. I know now she had a ball python but how does someone have a pet for 8 years and not know what it is.

[stratus_020202]

You guys are going to love this. I e-mailed the studio manager expressing my concern that they had no clue what they were talking about, and that I was angered they portrayed the snake as some big monster when in fact it was not.

Here is their response:

The police, the snake’s owner, the finder, and a pet store snake expert all identified the snake as a boa.

The snake that was being held in the interview with the pet store expert was a python. Not the snake involved in the incident.

Are you kidding me? Is anyone seeing a repeat of the interview that fireballs did with fox? What should I say back?

[Kymberli]

You guys are going to love this. I e-mailed the studio manager expressing my concern that they had no clue what they were talking about, and that I was angered they portrayed the snake as some big monster when in fact it was not.

Here is their response:

Are you kidding me? Is anyone seeing a repeat of the interview that fireballs did with fox? What should I say back?

Explain to them that yes, the snake the "expert" is holding is a ball python, but the snake in the tank that they are calling a boa is a ball python as well. Politely tell them that no where in the report is a boa constrictor shown.

[stratus_020202]

Here was my response:

Then you really need to print that. You are talking about apples and oranges. There is a major difference in a Boa Constrictor and a Ball Python. “The finder” states in the interview he didn’t know what kind of snake it was.

And, the ball python that was videoed is in terrible shape, leading me to believe it was the snake found. You can see it has stuck shed, and dented eye caps, which discredits your “pet store expert.”

Snakes make amazing pets, and are under scrutiny all the time. I just wish you would care more about the animals involved than ratings.

Melissa

So, I might have not been so nice, but I'm trying really hard

[babyknees]

His response makes the whole thing even more infuriating. Is everyone really that dumb? I'm sort of in shock right now.

[SpiffyYoshi]

You guys are going to love this. I e-mailed the studio manager expressing my concern that they had no clue what they were talking about, and that I was angered they portrayed the snake as some big monster when in fact it was not.

Here is their response:

Are you kidding me? Is anyone seeing a repeat of the interview that fireballs did with fox? What should I say back?

That is such a lie. This news coverage of the same story says "this snake" while holding the ball python. They called it a boa constrictor in this too. Funny but sad.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540...59288#42459288