How do I make people stop being afraid?

[Stargazer735]

It's just a stigma that follows snakes.

Most people think my ball python is HORRIBLE for eating rats, like he's some sort of monster. When they cringe at the thought of eating a 'poor mouse/rat,' I remind them that we too are meat-eaters. The things humans have done to cows, chickens, etc. in the past (and unfortunately, still in many places today) is far less kind than that of the fate of the rodents we feed our ball pythons. It's also just as nature intended (or damn close to it) as opposed to the processing cows, chickens, etc.. If anything, we're the uglier ones in that regard.

As for the violent picture these people create in their minds, I remind them that the rats actually pose a greater danger to us than the snake does (because rats have serious teeth and a bite can even need stitches) whereas a ball lacks the size and strength to do any harm to us. Cats and dogs pose greater risks! A bite from a ball is comparable to that of a bite from one of your family members' yappy little dogs (and as much as a dog lover as I am, I definitely feel you on that one!)

I also like to mention that they're some of the lowest maintenance pets out there - feeding once a week, easy habitat maintenance, etc. and that tends to get a decent reaction. It's sad, but when you say that to a dog/cat owner (again, I love dogs and cats,) their ears magically perk up. As soon as you make the pet experience more easier for the owner and focus less about the animal itself, suddenly the animal becomes more attractive. But hey, that's human nature.

You're never going to sway some people, just like you won't sway me from judging women that carry chihuahuas around in their purses/in their hands all the time. Gross.