Why do /you/ keep reptiles?

[4theSNAKElady]

So when this topic comes up, the person i admired the most comes into my mind. And that person is Steve Irwin. A quote from him, if i may...."I want people to touch animals, so that the animals touch them". I love SNAKES for soo many reasons. For their ease of care, for their variety of beautiful colors,and for their fascinating behaviours. It amazes me what an animal that has no limbs can do. People outside of our community are ignorant of snakes. Its well known that people fear what they know nothing about. The fear goes waay waaay back. Without the knowledge and truth, a vucuum was created....only to filled with superstion, stories, and made up nonsense. It is our duty as community to reverse this vacuum, and fill it with good experiences, knowledge, and FACTS. Getting back to Steve Irwin, i love taking Mikeeto(one of my albino males) to my work and letting people hold and touch him. Soo many times nay sayers and fearful folks have walked away with the realization that that snake is NOT poisonous, NOT going to eat them, and NOT dangerous at all, after seeing and even petting or holding Mikeeto. They often comment, "wow, ive never held a snake before. I didnt know they could be friendly", "beautiful", "it feels nice", "omg this is my first time ever touching a snake! Im not so scared anymore!". I feel that each little tiny moment we spend changing peoples minds and letting them realize things for themselves about our pets will slowly, but surely change the future for us, and protect the future of the animals we love most.
sent from my incubator