What do you think of young people with herps?

[BallPythonsRule]

What do you think of kids with herps? Do you think it's a bad or good thing?

[Argentra]

Well, my reply isn't in the poll: Only if they're old enough and know what they're doing.

I think kids owning any kind of pet is good for their sense of responsibility and gives them an early understanding of and love for animals. HOWEVER...I think they should only own pets, and herps especially, if they are old enough to handle and understand the needs of the animal, can do their research on the selected pet themselves, can give at least basic care to the animal, and above all do not see the pet as a trophy or thing that makes them cool.

[bonheki]

i think it cool as long as they take care of them right and they know what they doing i think a herp is mostly for teens 13 and up

[chz]

I think kids owning any kind of pet is good for their sense of responsibility and gives them an early understanding of and love for animals. HOWEVER...I think they should only own pets, and herps especially, if they are old enough to handle and understand the needs of the animal, can do their research on the selected pet themselves, can give at least basic care to the animal, and above all do not see the pet as a trophy or thing that makes them cool.

Agreed.

[rabernet]

Well, my reply isn't in the poll: Only if they're old enough and know what they're doing.

I think kids owning any kind of pet is good for their sense of responsibility and gives them an early understanding of and love for animals. HOWEVER...I think they should only own pets, and herps especially, if they are old enough to handle and understand the needs of the animal, can do their research on the selected pet themselves, can give at least basic care to the animal, and above all do not see the pet as a trophy or thing that makes them cool.

I also agree, so I could not vote.

[frankykeno]

Well, my reply isn't in the poll: Only if they're old enough and know what they're doing.

I think kids owning any kind of pet is good for their sense of responsibility and gives them an early understanding of and love for animals. HOWEVER...I think they should only own pets, and herps especially, if they are old enough to handle and understand the needs of the animal, can do their research on the selected pet themselves, can give at least basic care to the animal, and above all do not see the pet as a trophy or thing that makes them cool.

And I would add to that....that they have at least one adult backing them up. It's awfully unfair to allow your child to have a pet, especially an exotic one, and then not be there to provide any support at all.

[littleindiangirl]

Question. Young people is what you said in your poll, that denotes pre-teens to teenagers in my mind.

Everyone keeps talking about children though. Maybe define an age??

[BallPythonsRule]

Well, I don't agree on children as old as 6 year olds...
I meant Kids ages 12-17..

And I would add to that....that they have at least one adult backing them up. It's awfully unfair to allow your child to have a pet, especially an exotic one, and then not be there to provide any support at all.

I agree in a way, but my mother doesn't give me much support and my animals are fine, well taken care of and healthy.

[neilgolli]

Pets and the care of them takes and can teach an enormous amount of responsibility. I've had pets for nearly as long as I can remember I wanted a pet snake at a very early age and not being able to finally get one until I was 7. My mother set many many guidelines for me regarding the care of one and the fact that the expenses would be a burden I would have to bare. I did my chores each and every week for over a year to save my allowance up to buy one with MY money. I had to continue those chores each and every week in order to feed him as well. I learned many things that stuck with me my entire life. At 6 I learned to budget money, I learned to sacrifice (my brother blew his money on candy and baseball cards) but I saved literally every nickel, developed a plan and went for it. Those lessens really framed my life, my brother on the other hand never saw the point and never learned to save anything. He's now 26 and just last year bought a motorcycle on a credit card.

I talk many people out of buying reptiles for their children at shows as it often is an impulse buy. Pets should not be impulses, parents should talk with their children, make sure they understand they are taking a life in their hands and until they truly understand that they should not have pets of any kind. I hand my card out and tell them to come find me at the next show if they've gone home and explained the in's and outs and months later the kids are still truly interested to move forward then.

[Chuck]

I am not sure what age has to do with loving herps, but they are the future keepers of the animals we all find so dear and we were all young once.


Chuck