Why PETA Thinks Snakes Shouldn't be Pets (Disputed)

[bcr229]

A couple weeks ago I got threats from PETA to confiscate my snake. Luckily, they are not allowed on my property without a warrant and I made that very clear. Unfortunately, their power is growing with millions of dollars in funding each year.

Can you share how you got on their radar and what justification they were planning to use for the confiscation?

[FlynnTheBP]

Can you share how you got on their radar and what justification they were planning to use for the confiscation?

It's crazy, but I actually have no idea how they got my address. Really, all I can think of is that my neighbors (who luckily no longer live in the area) tipped them off that I owned reptiles and they came over to check it out. Their reason for the search and "possible confiscation" was the fact that I might have "illegal and dangerous" snakes in my house. Anyway, I was surprised bye the request to come in and "look" at my animals, but I knew something was up and told them to leave before I called the cops. They had no warrant or even a valid reason for coming, so they took off. Funny thing was, I answered the door with one of my leopard geckos on my shoulder (I'd been cleaning his vivarium), and the look on the guy's face who knocked on my door was pretty hilarious... Anyway, it's no secret that I keep reptiles, so I've actually had organizations call me over and over to yell at me over the phone on numerous occasions. I think the fact that almost everyone who knows me also knows that I own reptiles, especially when I was breeding my leos and posted ads, made me a target. I'd advise being very careful about who you talk to about non-traditional pets, I certainly learned my lesson. It makes me sad that I can't even talk about my animals without having to worry about being harassed.

[predatorkeeper87]

peta obviously cares about animals,

Before it became a corporation maybe, now its simply a payoff to the people running it.

[predatorkeeper87]

Thanks for all the good points everyone. Deborah, I used to be impartial to the PETA until I read up a bit and realized, like you mentioned, just how many "rescued" animals are euthanized at their kill shelters. A couple weeks ago I got threats from PETA to confiscate my snake. Luckily, they are not allowed on my property without a warrant and I made that very clear. Unfortunately, their power is growing with millions of dollars in funding each year.

First off PETA has zero authoritative right to send you a letter threating to take any of your property, secondly if they do show up don't open the door, and tell them were they can go and how they can get there. They themselves shouldn't even be there in general, it should be a uniformed police officer with a warrant, the people making the complaints should not be on the property with law enforcement.

EDIT I just read the post that they did show up and you did just that lol...I get ahead of myself with replies, sorry.

[predatorkeeper87]

It's crazy, but I actually have no idea how they got my address. Really, all I can think of is that my neighbors (who luckily no longer live in the area) tipped them off that I owned reptiles and they came over to check it out. Their reason for the search and "possible confiscation" was the fact that I might have "illegal and dangerous" snakes in my house. Anyway, I was surprised bye the request to come in and "look" at my animals, but I knew something was up and told them to leave before I called the cops. They had no warrant or even a valid reason for coming, so they took off. Funny thing was, I answered the door with one of my leopard geckos on my shoulder (I'd been cleaning his vivarium), and the look on the guy's face who knocked on my door was pretty hilarious... Anyway, it's no secret that I keep reptiles, so I've actually had organizations call me over and over to yell at me over the phone on numerous occasions. I think the fact that almost everyone who knows me also knows that I own reptiles, especially when I was breeding my leos and posted ads, made me a target. I'd advise being very careful about who you talk to about non-traditional pets, I certainly learned my lesson. It makes me sad that I can't even talk about my animals without having to worry about being harassed.

You are nicer than I am....I'd have gone to jail had some no-name turd showed up at my door asking to see my reptiles.

[tttaylorrr]

It's crazy, but I actually have no idea how they got my address. Really, all I can think of is that my neighbors (who luckily no longer live in the area) tipped them off that I owned reptiles and they came over to check it out. Their reason for the search and "possible confiscation" was the fact that I might have "illegal and dangerous" snakes in my house. Anyway, I was surprised bye the request to come in and "look" at my animals, but I knew something was up and told them to leave before I called the cops.

this is terrifying and honestly borders harassment. i can't even imagine how i'd react; i would have called authorities regardless.

[tttaylorrr]

i think this is an important part of the article that's getting overlooked; the very last sentence:

Please, never buy a snake or any animal from a pet store and ask friends and family not to support this deadly industry, either.

this is something i agree with, but i believe it should have been the opening/main point of the article. we all know this forum's general feelings surrounding big-chain pet stores and how they operate. most of us in the hobby buy from responsible breeders and try our best to keep our money away from these places.

if PETA wanted to actually educate anyone, they would have stuck to this point and branched off from there. instead of pointing out the fact that almost ALL of those "statistics" should be solely applied to reptiles within the big chain pet store industry (and some "statistics" should not have even been mentioned), this is just not the case with responsible breeders and hobbyists at all.

their entire business is based on sensationalism, hate and fear-mongering. they are just a business. they have strayed very, very far from what they once were (were they ever a reputable organization?).

[sneksNferts]

Wow, those PETA people have some balls. If they showed up at my place, I'd be calling the police at a minimum. It could probably be argued that they're impersonating a police officer. Try to push their way inside though, they're leaving in one of those big, fancy vans with the flashing lights.

[predatorkeeper87]

Wow, those PETA people have some balls. If they showed up at my place, I'd be calling the police at a minimum. It could probably be argued that they're impersonating a police officer. Try to push their way inside though, they're leaving in one of those big, fancy vans with the flashing lights.

An ice cream truck?!

[sneksNferts]

An ice cream truck?!

Ice Cream Trucks have freezers though....hmmmmm