My first shock I guess about peoples' fear

[Royal Chick]

Okay, so, here is something that not many of you know. I have a service dog who accompanies me everywhere! I also have snakes that I take in public. Yes, I have gottten complaints but I have had more for my dog than my snakes and the dog is a service animal. So someone has a phobia, I can't walk very well, deal with it. I take the same approach with my snakes, deal with it. They say pets allowed, I take my pets (and SD) and if they have a problem I tell them to walk away because I'm not going to deal with irrationality weather it is warranted or not. I'm not chasing them and to me it's like PETA trying to kill my SD, Gun Control taking away my guns, and schools and society saying being bi or gay is illegal or immoral; those are rude and unacceptable behaviors. I have one snake who doesn't get stressed and one that does, obviously he stays home for his comfort. Perry reaches out to see people, sits there and even kisses people on the cheek. The minute she gets uncomfortable I put her in my jacket pocket and we go home, but to say one customer has rights over another because of personal issues or biases is WRONG! Do I have an irrational fear? Yes, ants. Do I let it control my life? No. If I see an ant I leave it alone and go somewhere else before I panic. If someone with an ant farm talks to me about it at work I still help them, I just don't touch it. It's simple. I don't report your children as being terrible or annoying, don't report my animals as being dangerous if they aren't.

[Skiploder]

My snakes don't enjoy car rides and public places so I don't feel the need to bring mine anywhere. An besides I have enough things going on making people look at me I don't feel the need to add something else that's only purpose is to bring attention to me.

Indeed.

Was the purpose of this exercise to relieve the boredom of the snake?

Was it to socialize the snake?

Was it provide some sort of mental or physical stimulation for the snake?

Or was it to draw attention to the owner?

People take their dogs out to socialize them, or sometimes because the dog has anxiety issues, for companionship or for a dozen reasons that have nothing to do with drawing attention to the owner. However some people DO take their dogs out in public to draw attention to themselves - and for the OP's sake I am hoping she does not share that desire to use her snake to be the center of attention.

Taking a snake or a monitor out to stores or parks or flea markets does nothing good for the animal - in fact it is a stressful experience for the snake.....and comparing taking a snake into Lowes to a service dog or a kid is an apples to oranges comparison and is frankly stupid.

As others have pointed out, we need less provocateurs in this hobby.........less people who feel the need to impose reptiles down the throats of people who fear them, and let's face it - the general attitude of the public towards reptiles is not favorable.

Frankly when I see this type of behavior I worry - I worry that the person may be owning the snake for the wrong reasons. I see red flags whenever someone new to the hobby relates these types of stories to me. Maybe I'm wrong in this case, maybe I'm not...but this phase of behavior.......the strutting about with the animal in public places and lapping up the attention.....is many times a precursor to the next phase: this strutting act is getting less and less curious people, and I just realized that all this animal does is hide and poop - I'm going to sell it.

Enjoy your snake in the privacy of your own home. Do not draw attention to yourself or this hobby (either on purpose or not) by taking that poor animal out in public. No one designated you to be the ambassador for my hobby.

I am amazed that you had no idea that people were that afraid of snakes...............I do not believe that for one minute.

[Royal Chick]

Would you like to call me stupid again? I was showing that persecution comes in all situations to all different types of animals. I didn't realize I was on a forum with people who are so degrading as to call someone out on mental capacity when they have never met them!

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Would you like to call me stupid again? I was showing that persecution comes in all situations to all different types of animals. I didn't realize I was on a forum with people who are so degrading as to call someone out on mental capacity when they have never met them!

Where did someone specifically called you stupid and degraded you?

You might want to re-read what was posted!

There is a difference between calling a comparison stupid and calling someone stupid.

[olstyn]

If you're acting responsibly and within your rights, I say do what you please with yourself and your pets. You can't live your life worrying about offending everyone or hurting some cry babies feelings, screw'em. Do what makes you happy. You think you get dirty looks while carrying your pet snake around? You should see the looks I get while doing my grocery shopping with my .45 strapped to my hip..

Sent from my fingertips...

You just gave a great example of "just because you can doesn't mean you should."

What, other than negative attention from both the general public and police officers, do you gain by not concealing the gun?

In today's society, open carry seems almost DESIGNED to make large groups of people uncomfortable. Admittedly, the fears in question are largely irrational and/or based on a lack of knowledge, but that doesn't change the fact that you're intentionally scaring people.

Regarding the actual topic of the thread, I'm with those who say it's generally a bad idea to bring your reptiles out in public. In your own yard, where you're more in control of what's going on and other people don't even have a reason to be there, let alone to complain, fine, but there are risks even with that. My animals stay indoors where their needs are provided for and they're safe.

[Skiploder]

Would you like to call me stupid again? I was showing that persecution comes in all situations to all different types of animals. I didn't realize I was on a forum with people who are so degrading as to call someone out on mental capacity when they have never met them!

Relax.

I understand that your mental capacity is of great concern to you - especially how others may or may not perceive it. After all, what are we worth if unknown and anonymous people on the internet judge us lower than we judge ourselves? As you have clearly illustrated, the power of suspicion and the need to impress upon others our validity is of paramount concern....let me not be the one who by accident causes you any more feelings of inadequacy. Shhhhhh.

Rest assured I have no idea who you are and have not really attributed YOU to any one post (well, except this one which you directed at me).

In the future I will make certain that before I answer any questions or respond to any posts, that I take into consideration your fragile psyche and your feelings of inferiority in regards to your mental capacity. That way, I feel that I can go a long way in sparing you any more embarrassing and paranoid breakdowns on this forum.

Consider it my good deed of the day.

[Marrissa]

Indeed.

Was the purpose of this exercise to relieve the boredom of the snake?

Was it to socialize the snake?

Was it provide some sort of mental or physical stimulation for the snake?

Or was it to draw attention to the owner?

People take their dogs out to socialize them, or sometimes because the dog has anxiety issues, for companionship or for a dozen reasons that have nothing to do with drawing attention to the owner. However some people DO take their dogs out in public to draw attention to themselves - and for the OP's sake I am hoping she does not share that desire to use her snake to be the center of attention.

Taking a snake or a monitor out to stores or parks or flea markets does nothing good for the animal - in fact it is a stressful experience for the snake.....and comparing taking a snake into Lowes to a service dog or a kid is an apples to oranges comparison and is frankly stupid.

As others have pointed out, we need less provocateurs in this hobby.........less people who feel the need to impose reptiles down the throats of people who fear them, and let's face it - the general attitude of the public towards reptiles is not favorable.

Frankly when I see this type of behavior I worry - I worry that the person may be owning the snake for the wrong reasons. I see red flags whenever someone new to the hobby relates these types of stories to me. Maybe I'm wrong in this case, maybe I'm not...but this phase of behavior.......the strutting about with the animal in public places and lapping up the attention.....is many times a precursor to the next phase: this strutting act is getting less and less curious people, and I just realized that all this animal does is hide and poop - I'm going to sell it.

Enjoy your snake in the privacy of your own home. Do not draw attention to yourself or this hobby (either on purpose or not) by taking that poor animal out in public. No one designated you to be the ambassador for my hobby.

I am amazed that you had no idea that people were that afraid of snakes...............I do not believe that for one minute.

I've already stated I don't care about getting attention. If that was the case I'd waltz around with him everywhere. I took him out once to show coworkers. Am I planning to do it again? Nope they saw him. Do I need to take him in public to enjoy owning him? Nope. The whole reason I got a snake was to just enjoying having him out and relaxing with him.

This topic has been beaten to death over and over in this thread with the same two sides being said. I didn't say I didn't know people feared snakes. I said I was shocked at just how irrational and closed minded people are.

Thanks for the response.

[BrandiR]

I've already stated I don't care about getting attention. If that was the case I'd waltz around with him everywhere. I took him out once to show coworkers. Am I planning to do it again? Nope they saw him. Do I need to take him in public to enjoy owning him? Nope. The whole reason I got a snake was to just enjoying having him out and relaxing with him.

This topic has been beaten to death over and over in this thread with the same two sides being said. I didn't say I didn't know people feared snakes. I said I was shocked at just how irrational and closed minded people are.

Thanks for the response.

I think this is a really good thread, actually. Even though everyone doesn't agree, it addresses an issue that most snake owners are probably going to think about at some point, especially if they only have one or two snakes that they keep as pets. The fact that everyone doesn't agree makes it even more informative. The person reading this who isn't sure if they should take their snake to Lowe's or wherever has an array of thoughts, opinions, and experiences to help make that decision.

While I don't personally think you should take any animal into a non-animal-related business (aside from service animals, of course), I agree that if it's allowed for one animal it should be allowed for all. PROVIDED THAT THE ANIMAL IS ON A LEASH, IN A BAG, WEARING A FLIGHT HARNESS, ETC. Keep in mind, "pets" aren't limited to dogs, cats, and harmless snakes. People keep Lions, Crocodiles, freakin' Elephants! If you're going to defend your right to take a ball python to the store, then you kind of have to advocate for these people too.

I just think we'd all be better off if people were a little more conscious of those around them and less inclined to view other human beings as something that's just in their way.

[I-KandyReptiles]

If I had a crocodile I'd harness it up and take it to lowes.

[arialmt]

freakin' Elephants are my favorite kind.