Deborah
I am one of those people with real legitimate reasons. I have border line personality disorder and PTSD. my snakes are the only thing I have that calms me down and makes me feel better. so no. I shouldn't be ashamed. I'm simply telling someone who has a hobby that makes him happy a way to keep that hobby. its not abusing the system. its pretty much getting a license saying you can have the animals because they are beneficial to you and make you happy.
so yeah no, I'm sorry but no I'm not ashamed. I do have real reasons. and you should be the one who's ashamed jumping to conclusions and putting someone else down for having metal disorders and trying to help someone keep something in their life that makes them happy.