Salmonella and children under 5

[sgath92]

Salmonella was the big talking point for groups like HSUS/PETA to scare people away from exotics before they became smart enough to use terms like "non-native" or "invasive" to fear monger. It is worth pointing out that it is to this day a common talking point for these groups in trying to end meat consumption.

It is perfectly clear, if you have been reading their sites for long enough, that from the moment every day households started seeing reptiles as normal every day pets, these animal rights groups have been grasping at whatever they can think of to try to end the practice. They think pet ownership is slavery, and won't be happy until the practice is outlawed.

Make no mistake, these are radical activists, not complete idiots. They know what they're doing, and they're good at it. Look at how many pet shops today will not call their pets "pets" anymore. Instead they use the term "companion animal." Where do you think that phrase comes from? You got it: The radical animal rights groups who see "pets" as "companion slaves." Even their radical jargon is invading the mainstream.

The reality is that anyone who keeps any animal in a dirty environment is creating a breeding ground for various 'germs' [of a variety of types]. We have all seen what happens to buildings that have been used by cat hoarders. The diseases permeate threw the building to such a degree that they often can not be salvaged after the animals are removed, and need to be bulldozed flat & hauled away.

My BP is a rescue. She was left to die under a pile of trash in an apartment after an eviction. Her tank hadn't been cleaned in some time, as evident by the amount of past sheds, feces, etc and let me tell you: That tank had a particular smell to it which has not reoccurred since [because I keep it clean].

Supposing, a child in a household with a reptile did contract salmonella. How would the family know where the disease originated? This is a disease where food prep is of major importance, and most people eat in a variety of homes, schools, restaurants etc. It only takes one to be lax in their cleanliness to cause someone to catch the disease, even if the food consumed by the victim was not a meat product at all.

I would question the use of antibacterial products at all in the house, given the emerging problem of antibacterial resistant superbugs and these products' tendency to cause contact dermatitis. I use a vinegar-water solution for a variety of cleaning in my house including when I clean my snake enclosure. I don't have to worry about having any kids in my apartment so maybe someone else would have some insight there but I would imagine traditional soap & water would be as good if used at the right times & frequency.