this annoys me (animal planet content)

[Kodieh]

While I agree that Animal Planet airs a LOT of bulls**t that's mostly fear propaganda, we also can't use "well, dogs/horses kill more people than snakes", because WAY more people own dogs and horses than people who own snakes. It's just not a valid point to make, and it doesn't make us look good.

We need to make valid points about SNAKES. Have snakes been known to kill people? Yes, it's happened. We can't ignore that, no matter how small the percentage. But the circumstances are usually stemmed from some aspect of poor keeping. We need to illustrate well-known keepers who properly house, feed, and care for their reptiles, and raise awareness that (just like dogs) there are no "bad" or "evil" snakes, just bad ownership. If we can keep showing our hobby and passion in a positive light, instead of lowering ourselves to name-calling and finger-pointing at all our naysayers, we can be the bigger people and others will look at us and go "okay, so they're handling this maturely and they seem very sure and factual". Some people will become more people, and they will start going "hey, what are you talking about?" when others start spewing those Animal Planet/PETA nonsense.

The power of word-of-mouth has an amazing impact, and it's our best weapon against the fear propaganda that's out there.

As of 2011 statistics, you're 25 times more likely (correlatively speaking, like AP) to be killed by a dog than a constricting snake. 25 times.

I never want to put another animal hobby under the bus either, when it comes to our reptile rights. But I'm not above using the same "dirty tactics" HSUS and PETA use to make a point.

I use that statistic in a speech I presented. I made the claim and then added the disclaimer that "Now, you may think that your dog would never attack anyone let alone you, and you're probably right. But neither would my reptiles". I went on to make the point that keeping reptiles is just like owning a dog, I get the same personal enjoyment anyone else does.


Browsing on Tapatalk from my iPhone

[Trackstrong83]

I've talked to "big country" from Swamp Wars before in person. Even having a large burm or retic in your house is like having a loaded gun in your house..it takes responsibility. 99% of bad snake accidents have come from irresponsible owners.

[meowmeowkazoo]

The title pretty much says it all. Animal Planet? Annoying a responsible pet owner? Who'd have thunk.

[sho220]

This really grinds my gears!!

ha!

[OhhWatALoser]

As of 2011 statistics, you're 25 times more likely (correlatively speaking, like AP) to be killed by a dog than a constricting snake. 25 times.

I never want to put another animal hobby under the bus either, when it comes to our reptile rights. But I'm not above using the same "dirty tactics" HSUS and PETA use to make a point.

By any chance do you have a source of that?

and dogs arn't going away, most people love them, a good chunk of people own them, you're not putting their pets in danger with stats.

[stickyalvinroll]

wow all the answers are the worst choices possible. so theyre trying to sway people from not getting a python. its always how snakes kill their owner. ive never heard that in my life! the question about how to snake will find you in a darkened room pisses me off!who the hell lets a snake loose in their house!? Patrick J. Kiger is an idiot

[VooDooDoc]

I cant see the questions on my phone

Sent from my LS670 using Tapatalk 2

Count yourself lucky then. I think things like this quiz actually kill brain cells.

[Tfpets]

Watching animal planet is like going to petco! You know it's going to piss you off, but you just gotta see it sometimes!
On several occasions I have had a snake and one of my dogs with me in a public setting. It's funny how many people will run up on my dog and pet it and will shriek in fear of the snake. I always tell them that my chihuahua they are petting is way more dangerous than the snake! It's funny how fast they will back away from the dog!

[xFenrir]

What I meant by more people own dogs/horses is that pretty much every other house in your neighborhood's most likely going to have some breed of dog. I highly doubt any of them have snakes, and if they do, it's a little cornsnake or ball python that they got for one of their kids or something. Growing up, I only knew ONE person that had any type of snake, and it was a Cali King. Thus, I believe that instead of trying to fight fire with fire (in this case, pointing out that dogs have a higher human injury/death count, because frankly nobody will give a damn since they're "normal" pets that most people have), we need to educate people on proper handling and the risks that happen when you don't correctly care for your animals.

One thing I ALWAYS tell those other end of the spectrum people (the ones that think everything will "bond" with you and be your best friend) is that you only need to underestimate a large constrictor ONCE. One time is all they need to put you in a world of hurt. If you can't practice caution and be alert to possible problems or certain behaviors, then by no means should you even consider getting anything large. You will only hurt our hobby even more because you will be another blown-out-of-proportion news story about how some "innocent person" was "brutally and maliciously attacked for no reason by a bloodthirsty killer snake". More like "idiot keeper didn't feed their large python correct prey/didn't feed them often enough, and in hunger their snake tried for anything".



The only show I like on Animal Planet is "Tanked". Then again, you can't really have any negative things to say about fish...

- - - Updated - - -

"In 2009, the South Florida Water Management District estimated between 5,000 to 180,000 Burmese pythons were living in South Florida."

[Tfpets]

It's funny that you would mention tanked! I keep reef aquariums, live rock, coral all that kinda stuff. In the reefing world that show is a joke! Do you realize how many fish and how much coral they are killing when they throw all of that junk together and then add the livestock! It takes months to properly cycle a tank! Tons of patience, testing and knowledge! I guarantee you that 99% of the livestock you see in the show is dead in a few days! Just more misinformation for your entertainment!