Sorry you came across some haters. It's our job in the herpetological community to defend these animals and to educate the ignorance out of people. When someone makes a negative comment about a snake I always ask, "who told you that?" or "who taught you to be afraid of snakes and why did you listen?" I just about never get a real answer, and that's how I begin the conversation about the good that snakes do in the animal community and how they are not the demonic creatures people have made them out to be. Not knowing about an animal is NOT a reason to hate or fear it. It's a reason to ask questions or leave it alone. It is never a reason to shoot it. I would find it hard not to slap someone right across the face if they told me they went out to shoot snakes. And you're absolutely right, it is NO different than shooting an untagged/uncollared dog that's walking down the street.
TheSnakeGuy
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