News: 2 die in rock python attack

[jclaiborne]

I just wish there were an easy way to get the general public to understand not all snakes are the same. The arguments I'm seeing the most as a result of this are:
- Snakes aren't domesticated and shouldn't be kept as "pets"
- Snakes are killers and dangerous and shouldn't be kept in captivity
- Snakes are wild animals and shouldn't be kept in captivity
- Snakes can't be properly provided for and therefore shouldn't be kept in captivity
- Most people can't properly care for a snake, therefore no one should keep snakes
- Snakes eat live animals, which are cruelly kept and bred, and therefore it is cruel to keep snakes in captivity
- Snakes don't have affection for people, therefore aren't "pets"
- Snakes become invasive species that eat native wildlife in threatened habitat, therefore no snakes should be kept in captivity any where

There might be a few more, but those are the big ones. It isn't hard to refute any of those, but people who are blind and deaf won't listen or see reason, nor will the see or hear the fallacies in their own arguments.

On this topic of general public ignorance, one of my co-workers just came up and asked me if I was getting rid of my snakes now, I calmly asked why. Their response was "well you have a 5 year old and you have two killing machines in your house, I wouldn't be able to sleep at night." I have a corn and a baby BP hardly what comes to mind when I hear "killing Machine" I tried explaining that a ball python and corn are not even in the same category as a rock python, but their response (not sure why it suprised me) was "a snake is a snake is a snake". Trying to get them to understand I said "well do you own any dogs?" They have a pug, so I asked "people die every year from dog attacks, shouldnt you get rid of your pug?" I thought that logic made perfect sense, apparently I was wrong. They got frustrated, told me I "am not making any sense because dogs don't intentionally hurt people, and Ill never understand"....they then walked off. WHAT!?

[eatgoodfood]

On this topic of general public ignorance, one of my co-workers just came up and asked me if I was getting rid of my snakes now, I calmly asked why. Their response was "well you have a 5 year old and you have two killing machines in your house, I wouldn't be able to sleep at night." I have a corn and a baby BP hardly what comes to mind when I hear "killing Machine" I tried explaining that a ball python and corn are not even in the same category as a rock python, but their response (not sure why it suprised me) was "a snake is a snake is a snake". Trying to get them to understand I said "well do you own any dogs?" They have a pug, so I asked "people die every year from dog attacks, shouldnt you get rid of your pug?" I thought that logic made perfect sense, apparently I was wrong. They got frustrated, told me I "am not making any sense because dogs don't intentionally hurt people, and Ill never understand"....they then walked off. WHAT!?

It would have taken everything in me not to punch that person in the face and tell them I hope they never reproduce as I spit in their face and walk away..... I mean yea... I would never really do that, but thats what goes through my head and how frustrated I get.

[jclaiborne]

It would have taken everything in me not to punch that person in the face and tell them I hope they never reproduce as I spit in their face and walk away..... I mean yea... I would never really do that, but thats what goes through my head and how frustrated I get.

Hahah ya it was pretty frustrating, but I figured maybe this would have been a chance to educate someone...I figured wong

[sorraia]

On this topic of general public ignorance, one of my co-workers just came up and asked me if I was getting rid of my snakes now, I calmly asked why. Their response was "well you have a 5 year old and you have two killing machines in your house, I wouldn't be able to sleep at night." I have a corn and a baby BP hardly what comes to mind when I hear "killing Machine" I tried explaining that a ball python and corn are not even in the same category as a rock python, but their response (not sure why it suprised me) was "a snake is a snake is a snake". Trying to get them to understand I said "well do you own any dogs?" They have a pug, so I asked "people die every year from dog attacks, shouldnt you get rid of your pug?" I thought that logic made perfect sense, apparently I was wrong. They got frustrated, told me I "am not making any sense because dogs don't intentionally hurt people, and Ill never understand"....they then walked off. WHAT!?

*face palm*

That's exactly the kind of ignorance that is the loudest to scream and the hardest to fight. And you know what? Small dog breed compared to smaller docile snake and a large dog breed compared to a larger snake species isn't even a good comparison! Small dogs are known for biting and bad attitudes. Many a vet tech and shelter worker I've talked to have said they've been bitten far more often by small dogs than large dogs. The only reason you don't hear about it is because their bites don't do as much damage as a larger dog (usually). Compared to a docile ball python that would bite once in a blue moon, if even that often, a small dog is like Freddy Krueger!

And to say dogs don' intentionally hurt people is idiocy at its best. Most well trained, properly socialized, and well cared for dogs may not intentionally hurt someone, but there are plenty of poorly cared for, untrained, unsocialized dogs out there who WOULD bite! Personally... when I am out in my monitoring areas, working as a biologist, I would much rather come across a snake (even a venomous rattlesnake!) than a loose dog... The snakes at least try to avoid me. A couple of the dogs I've come across have actually growled at me, and some have even made like they were going to attack. I carry my Taser in case I come across a hostile human, but I carry my pepper spray in case of dog.

[RockyGurly]

This all just seems RIDICULOUSLY fishy. Teeth marks? Did the the python go have a nibble and then slither away? And there's no way they got bit without being eaten silently. And the third boy just sat around and watched?
Even if they were smothered, there's still the collapsing ceiling...
It all just seems like a bunch of people automatically pointing their fingers at the snake because they're "scary" animals. I really hope the snake is still kickin' and will be moved in with someone who can actually take care of it properly.

Even with all this, my grandparents are still begging my dad to forbid snakes in the house. Pffff.

[OctagonGecko729]

On this topic of general public ignorance, one of my co-workers just came up and asked me if I was getting rid of my snakes now, I calmly asked why. Their response was "well you have a 5 year old and you have two killing machines in your house, I wouldn't be able to sleep at night." I have a corn and a baby BP hardly what comes to mind when I hear "killing Machine" I tried explaining that a ball python and corn are not even in the same category as a rock python, but their response (not sure why it suprised me) was "a snake is a snake is a snake". Trying to get them to understand I said "well do you own any dogs?" They have a pug, so I asked "people die every year from dog attacks, shouldnt you get rid of your pug?" I thought that logic made perfect sense, apparently I was wrong. They got frustrated, told me I "am not making any sense because dogs don't intentionally hurt people, and Ill never understand"....they then walked off. WHAT!?

Tell them they should worry less about your pets if they care about your kids then they should condemn you for keeping household cleaners first. Afterall we want to address the most deadly things first. http://www.poison.org/stats/

Damn that Mr. Clean, Damn him.

[el8ch]

An updated link from Canadian news source CBC
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-br...oys-vigil.html

Questions raised about exotic pet laws
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/...ws-canada.html

[OctagonGecko729]

Or you could point out that they should start lobbying the supreme court to make all swimming pools illegal, including public ones. http://www.cdc.gov/homeandrecreation...factsheet.html

Or maybe they should ban bathtubs. http://www.tomkileylaw.com/library/c...achusetts.html

Hell, lets just ban water.

[el8ch]

Hell, lets just ban water.

Yeah, this incident has started a storm of fear mongering and mis-information.

The vast majority of people commenting on exotic animals and bans don't realize that the bird they love, the 'domestic' dog they own or the plants they adore are actually all ... wait for it .... EXOTIC.

[sorraia]

Yeah, this incident has started a storm of fear mongering and mis-information.

The vast majority of people commenting on exotic animals and bans don't realize that the bird they love, the 'domestic' dog they own or the plants they adore are actually all ... wait for it .... EXOTIC.

I made a comment about that on one article, and got called stupid for it!
I'm a biologist... "exotic", "invasive", and "native" are a very large part of my professional vocabulary.