people irk me

[Kaylaaa]

Three times now I have seen BPs on craigslist with nothing but a water dish and climbing branches. No hides, no UTH, no temp gauges, nothing.
Whyyyy. Is is that hard to read about them?

[Reinz]

It's real bad in my neck of the woods as well.

Just a few weeks ago one poster was selling a Boa in a cramped wire cage! And it appeared to be outdoors.

On another note:
Fortunately, someone took some time to post some guidelines with some pictures for a few days. While I didn't exactly agree on everything, I wasn't going to criticize since the ad was pushing in the right direction.

[Nellasaur]

Unfortunately, working at an animal shelter has taught me that a lot of people are unable or unwilling to put the effort into caring for their animals properly. Whether it's a snake, a rabbit, a bird, or a cat or dog-- the condition that we sometimes receive peoples' owned pets in here at the shelter can be appalling. A lot of people get exotic or "dangerous" pets for the COOL or WOW factor without doing appropriate research into what the animal needs to live (much less thrive), or thinking at all about the fact that they are taking responsibility for the life of an animal and not just buying a cool accessory.

[Kaylaaa]

It's real bad in my neck of the woods as well.

Just a few weeks ago one poster was selling a Boa in a cramped wire cage! And it appeared to be outdoors.

On another note:
Fortunately, someone took some time to post some guidelines with some pictures for a few days. While I didn't exactly agree on everything, I wasn't going to criticize since the ad was pushing in the right direction.

They really had a boa in a wire cage possibly outside? poor thing. Just makes me want to save them all. hah

[Kaylaaa]

Unfortunately, working at an animal shelter has taught me that a lot of people are unable or unwilling to put the effort into caring for their animals properly. Whether it's a snake, a rabbit, a bird, or a cat or dog-- the condition that we sometimes receive peoples' owned pets in here at the shelter can be appalling. A lot of people get exotic or "dangerous" pets for the COOL or WOW factor without doing appropriate research into what the animal needs to live (much less thrive), or thinking at all about the fact that they are taking responsibility for the life of an animal and not just buying a cool accessory.

I would never be able to work at a shelter. I would take them all home.

But really, it seems worse with exotic animals. like they just think they can throw this animal or bird in a cage and call it good. It's really sad.

[zina10]

Yeah, I've given up on explaining why I keep my Ball Pythons in tubs/Rack. Well, I'm going to make one display cage, but it will have husbandry and needs SPOT ON.

As soon as I try to explain they look at me as if I'm an animal abuser, they then go on telling me how their (or their friends, cousins, uncles, etc) Ball Python LOVED their big glass tank or mesh enclosure, how he was SO social, climbing around and moving around all day long. How he loved to cuddle and only bit people he didn't like. Etc etc etc.

How do you explain to people that are used to dogs and cats and "social" animals that a BP is HAPPIER in a small, dark, cramped space ? And that a Ball Python that moves around nonstop is NOT social nor happy ?

Its just lack of education. I just wish that once they committed to any "pet" to any living animal, they would do their research to provide the best home they can.

in a perfect world..

I think that is why I would have a hard time selling my hatchlings. All this work, excitement and waiting. And then...probably a big percentage of them is not going to make it past 2 years old. Or not in a good way, anyway. Even morphs are so cheap nowadays that people buy them and neglect them because they are to lazy to put time in research and proper husbandry. Rather sad..

[melcvt00]

Work in veterinary medicine. Unfortunately pets come with people.

[Gruba]

Luckily, I haven't seen any sketchy ads for mistreated snakes *fingers crossed* but, I do frequent a reptile rescue and the condition of some of the animals is downright depressing. Really makes me thankful for them and the work they do with their animals. I'm doing my part and raising my boys to care for their animals. My son has a bp and a uromastyx. He's 3.5 and he feeds the uro, helps spot clean both enclosures, helps when we deep clean and is fully involved in the keeping and care of both. My 1.5 yr watches everything we do with both and when he's old enough, we'll put him to work too!

[HVani]

You know, it happens. All you can really do is take excellent care of your own animals and educate those willing to learn. Otherwise being angry is wasted energy. Some things will never change sadly.

[Nellasaur]

I would never be able to work at a shelter. I would take them all home.

But really, it seems worse with exotic animals. like they just think they can throw this animal or bird in a cage and call it good. It's really sad.

We can thank the general rampant misinformation and ignorance about the care requirements for exotics for that. Exotic pet care in captivity has improved tremendously and keeps improving every day, but for a lot of people they're just ignorant about it-- or don't care. It's INCREDIBLY sad.