Stop insulting my pet

[bluewind]

Do you ever get tired of the reactions people have to your pet? I have this lovely 3 year old albino sand boa who wouldn't hurt a fly, let's kids hold her, likes to be pet, is scared of live food (she only eats frozen), and is friendly to my dogs (I had to scold my Rat Terrier the other day for trying to clean Lily's face!) and yet the go to response people have is how they kill snakes in their yard or the only good snake is a dead one. That's really messed up! I don't go up to a dog owner and immediately talk about all the dogs I've shot in my yard or call it evil because I'm not an [censored].

While we're at it, my snake also does not allow the devil to get to me or corrupt my soul. I'm not a satanist or some other religion that is viewed as evil. I'm an atheist and no the snake didn't cause that either. No she doesn't attack people and even if she did it would be a glorified paper cut because of her tiny mouth. No I don't have a thing of live mice in my house and throw them in her cage because they could actually hurt her, so I use humanly euthanized frozen mice that I thaw out. Stop quoting stories of people killed by snakes or eaten by them because mine can't do either, so how is that a good argument on how snakes are bad? And neighbor lady, don't tell my dad to come and kill my snake when I'm not home because that is just [censored] evil.

Just today, my landlady came by and grimaced at Lily. She was just chilling in my shirt tail with her head laying on my hand as I stroked her back. Then the landlady randomly brought up talk of killing snakes with a mention that she was sure mine was nice and all, but others weren't. This was followed a few minutes later by a repairman who talked about killing snakes and then mentioned how massive boas eat people. I held my tongue as I was screaming on the inside. She's my pet! And that is not okay. Talking about killing someone's pet who has never harmed another person should not be a common reaction, and yet here we are. So stop insulting my pet people of the world. You should know better.

[dannybgoode]

I am a Satanist but the snakes didn't cause it.

Seriously though - no it doesn't bother me one bit. They're not everyone's cup of tea I appreciate that. Even my wife hates them but hey, they're mine and I don't...

[GyGbeetle]

The titanboa could eat people. It's also extinct. Retics could technically eat people, but they don't. Dogs could eat people, and have in some very famous cases. Cats too. While we're at it, pigs, which are an ever growing pet favorite, will actually eat the flesh and bones off of humans, before the people are even dead. So, there's that.

I get frustrated too. then brush it off to mostly ignorance. The worst one so far is the "sizing you up" theory. That actually gets my blood boiling.

I've been bit by my cats. I've been bit by my snakes. The cat bites got infected, swelled up, and I had excruciating pain for over a month due to some damage by them latching on. All that bacteria they get in their mouths from cleaning themselves, and the litter, and all of it; much worse form of a pet. My snakes, all I did was wash it out with soap and water, didn't even apply neosporin, and the next day, the bite was pretty much gone. And that was with the retics. So you make the call which one you want in your home.

Dogs are usually not aggressive unless you train them to be, so I don't really have good arguments for their bites. Most of the time, a dog will bite because it has a jerk for a human.

[jay's reptiles]

The titanboa could eat people. It's also extinct. Retics could technically eat people, but they don't. Dogs could eat people, and have in some very famous cases. Cats too. While we're at it, pigs, which are an ever growing pet favorite, will actually eat the flesh and bones off of humans, before the people are even dead. So, there's that.

I get frustrated too. then brush it off to mostly ignorance. The worst one so far is the "sizing you up" theory. That actually gets my blood boiling.

I've been bit by my cats. I've been bit by my snakes. The cat bites got infected, swelled up, and I had excruciating pain for over a month due to some damage by them latching on. All that bacteria they get in their mouths from cleaning themselves, and the litter, and all of it; much worse form of a pet. My snakes, all I did was wash it out with soap and water, didn't even apply neosporin, and the next day, the bite was pretty much gone. And that was with the retics. So you make the call which one you want in your home.

Dogs are usually not aggressive unless you train them to be, so I don't really have good arguments for their bites. Most of the time, a dog will bite because it has a jerk for a human.


yeah, my little brother got attacked by a cat and got something called "cat scratch fever" He had to go to the doctors and get medicine for it.

[Aaron_S]

They just aren't for everyone. Try to educate but also respect others fears and let them live their life.

When educating, talking to someone who has an open mind is key. Don't waste the effort on people who won't listen.

[GyGbeetle]

We had my step son's best friend over at our house for the first time last week. Mom and step dad were in tow. Mom was totally fine handling our male retic. The child was obviously terrified, and the mom kept forcing him to handle/touch/be close to the retic she was handling. I was trying to find a delicate way to tell the mom to respect his fear and to *f* off. I reminded the boys there was an X-box in the playroom, and off they went. But that was kinda messed up to force the snake on someone who obviously didn't want anything to do with it.

And that's how we approach folks. If they are interested, we engage. If they're not, we respect their decision. And if the conversation ends up turning negative (the only good snake is a dead snake), we will do our best to change the topic. It's only when we're out doing educational visits (hopefully we'll get to do these on a regular basis) do we engage in all types of questions, whether they are for herp or against.

[Tiny Boidae]

I'm in agreement with everyone else. You won't accomplish anything by forcing a snake onto someone else except fuel their fear. Practically my entire family has had life long fears of the little guys and they've gotten better with time and patience, but I never forced anyone to handle my snake when they don't want to. Not good for the people involved or the snake.

Now, I have a deathly fear of wasps. Not even bees, but just wasps. They seem to have an endless supply of attitude and it doesn't help that they can fly and they're everywhere. If someone approached me trying to get me to hold a wasp or whatever, I'd be absolutely terrified. Think of it like that when someone expresses a fear of snakes. It's not a fun situation to be in for all of the parties involved.

[Doug 351]

yeah, my little brother got attacked by a cat and got something called "cat scratch fever" He had to go to the doctors and get medicine for it.

Was his first name Ted....and his last Nugent?

[regi375]

My dad always says that if one of my snakes get out, he's going to shoot it. Hopefully he's joking, but I've seen him decapitate copperheads before so I'm not willing to test it (which thankfully I've gotten him to stop while I'm around). As for how dangerous they are, that depends on the species. Most snakes are less dangerous than a Chihuahua (especially with those little dog's attitude). I agree with never forcing someone to hold a snake. It stresses me out that they might panic or something and accidentally hurt the animal.

[bluewind]

My annoyance with people isn't what yall think. All the above happened (save for what happened this morning) just by me admitting I own a snake. Like...
Person: What pets do you have?
Me: Well I have two small dogs, a sand boa/snake, and I'm getting a kitten soon.
Person: *curls nose* Eh!
Example 1: You know that thing is gonna try to eat your kitten right?
Example 2: Only good snake is a dead snake. (Sometimes followed by, I kill every one I see. I don't care what kind. And if you had yours with you I'd kill it too!)
Example 3: Don't you read your bible!?! Get rid of it! (sometimes followed up with soul in danger stuff and telling me to go to church sometimes followed by impromptu preaching)
Example 4: Only Devil worshipers own snakes. You're not one? Then why the hell would you own one!
Example 5: Why!?! They're dangerous. (story about person who died from bite, story about pet who died from bite, story about snakes eating children or even adults, story about snake getting loose and killing owner in their sleep, reasons why they are dangerous for children, or statistics/facts which may be real or just outright wrong/lies)

In all those situations, I didn't have Lily with me or even talked about how snakes are good. I just mentioned that I own one when listing pets. Sometimes the person who says that crap to me isn't even the person I'm talking to, but someone nearby who's eavesdropping and somehow believes it pertinent to break in a conversation just to say that stuff! Like if I find someone who likes snakes (either has, admires, or eventually wants one), odds are if the conversation is not in a private setting a random person at some point will interrupt our conversation to say something from the above. It's very annoying.

[GyGbeetle]

Sand boa eating a kitten. I get a chuckle at that. You should start bringing pics for size reference.

[Doug 351]

NEWSFLASH:

The average person is an idiot. Not just when it comes to snakes.

Think about this: besides snakes, one of the next most beneficial creatures on earth..( as far as controlling harmful creatures...) are bats! Never knew ANYONE harmed by one...but the fear is there!

Now, how about BEES? They help pollinate plants that FEED US! I don't bother them, they don't bother me. Same with snakes....( except I bother them....I can't help myself, they're too much fun to play with!)

A funny little aside, as a 6 year old, I would catch honeybees in a papercup by slapping my hand over the top, then pretend I was shaving with the buzzing cup. (I never was really right in the head.)

It took a couple of hundred times before one finally stung me.

[bluewind]

Sand boa eating a kitten. I get a chuckle at that. You should start bringing pics for size reference.
I totally do! I have one picture of her laying in one hand while I take a picture with the other, but they either get grossed out like it's gonna jump out of my phone or something or talk about how big their mouths can stretch. Full grown she refuses to eat anything bigger than hoppers (she eats more than one at a time) and prefers fuzzies, bolted one time my ex tried to give her an anole, and will lay down beside my small dogs, but somehow she's gonna have a black maw of death the minute she sees a kitten? Really?

The more annoying ones I show the pic of her stretched across the top of my new glasses (not all of her of course but a good bit if her) because she was trying to figure out what they were! She's hilarious and very curious.


Doug: I know people are idiots. I'm just very annoyed at the high per capita rate that lives here!

Also, my opinion is that bats are cute, I caught the bee with the white face mark as a kid because they can't sting, my dad has to be super careful with bees because he's highly allergic and I swear they know that somehow because he's been stung plenty of times while I think I was once or twice my whole life, I treat the area the dogs go potty with crystal sulfer to keep snakes away (there are a lot of venomous ones here) but not everywhere, and I don't bother snakes in the wild.

[riddick07]

I don't really get this much. People seem mostly either curious or scared. If they are scared they still seem to want to hear about them and see pictures just no in person interaction. Most of the time I can even get them to admit that some of the snakes I have are pretty lol

We had a pet sitter come in once that was super nervous realizing that when I said big snake I meant big. By the end of the interview she wanted to hold Lily, Retic not fully grown but big enough, before leaving and get pictures.

Lily was about a foot smaller than this at the time. I was impressed since she was really freaked when she first saw Lily.
http://i.imgur.com/6oaTOzz.jpg

[akane]

I can't say I'm going to leave everything alone. I'm highly allergic to everything with venom and many things without. Nonpoisonous spiders make me break out. I stepped too hard near a bee I didn't see and spent 3 weeks unable to walk swollen to my knee which could be a worse reaction and death given how far from a hospital we often are. I'm not going to leave wasp or stinging bee nests on my property. There are several bee species that don't make real hives or honey, are important pollinators, and have no sting so it's not that I hate bees. I don't want to die. If a poisonous snake is in my yard it's probably dying for the same reason. I have dogs and us to worry about and poisonous snakes aren't really numerous to keep appearing in the area so it's not a constant thing you keep dealing with unless you bought a house in a really bad location like those people who it turns out their house was on a huge garter snake brumation spot. Odds are you'll never see another poisonous snake. Odds are you'll never see one in your life at all in this state if you don't go specific places but I did still learn how to tell the difference. The fear and lack of knowledge gets things killed that aren't rattlesnakes or poisonous species of water snake. Off my property I'm just going to try to get out of it's way but with dogs if I've got to whack something I will.

Actually dangerous things aside I think for some people it's learned but for some it's just a leftover instinct causing a phobia that is so common it goes unrecognized. The sound of my bigger bull snake sliding across his bin is irritating and disturbing to my husband. It sets off fear for really no reason. I don't think he's ever been bit by any snake. Most people have practically no experience with snakes and think they are all just going to bite everything unpredictably. The threat displays by wild snakes and even some captive snakes doesn't help people who don't understand. The snakes are easier than birds to me. I keep trying to keep birds of various types and I don't get them at all. I have no idea their condition and can't figure out how to handle even the hand raised and trained ones. I have diamond doves now. They are fairly cheap if my constant debate over whether their fluffing is comfort or illness is wrong and they just go still with no attempt to bite when you grab them. I had cockatiels give me more damage and pain than the boa that bit me due to starvation. I think seeing the rosy boas, lack of damage they can do, slow way of doing anything, small amount of work to care for compared to mammals, and containment in a tank has mostly won my husband over. He'll hold young rosy and he even dropped a rodent to my 2016 bull snake. I can't get him over that big kankakee bull though. He's helping build a new enclosure for it to upgrade the 3 biggest snakes but he won't go near it if not contained by solid materials.

[bluewind]

Rid: Oh my! My Lily is almost like a mini version of your Lily XD

Here's a picture attached of her from when she was a little over 2 years old.

Akane: It's understandable to do when it's a safety concern and you aren't out killing every green snake and vaguely snake shaped thing. And I also have family members with a phobia of snakes. I always try to respect their needs as best I can. Two have warmed up to Lily and even held her which I thought was pretty cool. The hardest one is my sister because her two youngest boys love Lily and they can be very persistent on wanting to hold her and not understanding why they can't until mom leaves. They even tried to teach her once on the difference between good snakes (not venomous and eat things like lizards and mice, but if they aren't a pet, they are wild and not safe to touch because they will bite) and bad snakes (venomous, unsafe, notify an adult, but they also eat mice so that's why even bad snakes do good things) that I had taught them (there was also some other things like never unlock a cage without an adult because they could get out and get hurt). That was very hard not to laugh at.

[Magdalen]

Nice sand boa! My first snake was a sand boa.

I don't usually tell people I have a snake. Cause it's either ewww or it's going to eat your cat. Umm if my two foot snake can somehow eat a cat I'd be impressed. I've always stuck with small snakes and I always get the cat thing.

[Scubadiver59]

It's not so much the eating as the "hug of death" I'd be worried about!

Nice sand boa! My first snake was a sand boa.

I don't usually tell people I have a snake. Cause it's either ewww or it's going to eat your cat. Umm if my two foot snake can somehow eat a cat I'd be impressed. I've always stuck with small snakes and I always get the cat thing.

[bluewind]

Magdalen: Thanks. I absolutely adore her. I did a lot of research before deciding on a breed. I went with Sand Boa because of size and temperament. I got her from a local pet shop. I only paid $90 (which included 2 months of pinkies) because while she's well bred, the owner who had only been in business a few months was terrible at handling and caring for snakes so he couldn't sell her. Had her in a critter keeper by the birds and yanked her out scaring the crap out of her. She really REALLY didn't like him (and he didn't like her either), but she melted when I got her, so I talked him down.

I bought almost everything for her. I had a second normal colored one with my now ex, but I insisted on getting Lily because he wasn't keeping both (he had already kept almost all my furniture). I found out later that he planned on keeping the other (she's still well) because the woman he left me for and moved in my house (they are now married) loved her, but they had found a buyer for Lily and her stuff. So I'm very happy I put my foot down.

I know! I will never understand that.

I think I'll always stick with small snakes. They take up less space and are easier to handle especially with my bad left arm/hand. I'll probably even stick to this one breed because I adore them so much. :)

Scubadiver59: I don't see even that (small constrictor snake killing a cat) happening with smaller snakes. It's not only about length, but mass as well. While I can't speak for all smaller snake species, my large full grown female sand boa (who road around in my coat pocket the other day) subjectively could not hypothetically constrict a cat to death (and would most likely get killed by even a declawed cat first), but maybe a kitten. But seeing as the species I keep isn't a high energy species, her going after and constricting a live kitten is very very low especially as she has been eating nothing but frozen her entire life. I can honestly only see it happening with a kitten with a very hungry snake raised on live food or maybe one being actively attacked. Now larger snakes might be a different story as I have no experience with them.

[Scubadiver59]

You took me WAY too literally...I was being facetious!!!!

[bluewind]

You took me WAY too literally...I was being facetious!!!!
Lol! This is why we need better ways of conveying text meaning online XD

Seriously though. I've got that response in real life. Plus I belong to an atheist forum that's constantly flooded by people of various religions who take the NOPE, YOU'RE WRONG approach (and the comment section of Dumbing of Age which has a flood of anti LGBTQ+ comments every new update before Willis has the chance to delete them), so I'm use to people who make you go ...so why are you here again? It's like they are playing Pokemon and think that battling us will allow them to weaken us enough to where they can catch us for their cause. They have a small predictable move set and act all surprised when we're prepared and are immune to everything they throw at us. Where's a repel when you need it?

... I have revealed I am a nerd on so many levels. :o
Stop me if I ever start talking about Skyrim (1000 hrs just on my favorite character who's an Argonian) :D

[Lefitte]

That's pretty awful that so many people around you are like that. I haven't had a truly negative response yet. My family are mostly not into them and my aunt gets the shivers [she was nearly strangled once many years ago while handling a giant solo, took a few big guys to wrestle it off of her, I'm assuming she panicked and it wasn't quite that bad but that's all on the owner of the snake for letting her handle solo], but everyone's okay with them. My mom gets freaked out a little when touching them and must always know where the bitey end is but she's absolutely in love with my hognose who runs around his cage all day long.

Just recently in my sign language class, my teacher asked what pets we had.. hah... I gave a long list and asked how to sign 'snake'. She gave me a funny look and was like REALLY? And then told everyone she didn't like them but I had three, like I was crazy, but it was playful and not truly mean. Meanwhile my Spanish teacher has had to housesit snakes before and likes them. I'm pretty open about having snakes, a lot of people around here have them or know someone who does. It's pretty cool.

Once when I took my BRB to PetSmart, a little girl freaked out and asked to touch him. Apparently she had a snake at home and loved them. I thought she was terrified at first but then she looked like she saw a puppy! My niece's friends are the most scared people I've come across. I never approach people even in my own house when I have them out and I warn people that I do. Most recently her friends were freaked out but wanted to touch him while my niece laughed at me and called me Snow White.. as I wrestled a snake from off the top of my head and a cat from off my leg while he was asking me to pick him up. She thought it was pretty hilarious. Her friends said something about how my niece was trying to get me to come up from behind them and put the snake on her and I was just like "What? Nooo. I don't want my baby hurt. Are you crazy? That's a terrible idea!" A little part of me flailed at that idea. He's not even 2 yet and still tiny and I can just imagine him flying so far... Nononono that is the worst idea ever. I wouldn't even do that with a rubber snake to be honest, no need to make peoples' fears worse.

[GyGbeetle]

My mom has an irrational fear of snakes, and freaks out whenever she comes over. She's given me the same excuses that OP has provided, regarding them killing the kids, the cats, etc... It blows my mind, but to each their own. As long as she doesn't hurt my babies if I go out of town, that's all I care about.

Now finding a pet sitter during my out-of-town trips, that'll be a different story entirely!

[dannybgoode]

Some of the larger snakes on here could easily kill cats, dogs, small children, adults...

Doesn't mean they will though so the fear is still irrational but I understand it to an extent.

[GyGbeetle]

Some of the larger snakes on here could easily kill cats, dogs, small children, adults...

Doesn't mean they will though so the fear is still irrational but I understand it to an extent.

I had a baby boa in my hands, and my mom turned around not realizing I had this teeny tiny baby in my hands. When she realized, she literally jumped *out* of her shoes and back about 3 feet. My husband thought I had killed her. It was a baby! So irrational. I do get it, and so badly want to force the educational aspect of it, but I know it won't go anywhere, especially when those fears aren't based on facts.

My most irritating question so far is: don't they carry salmonella? They may not have venom, but they're poisonous because of the salmonella in their saliva. Yes, I'm going to die from salmonella exposure from a snake bite. That's absolutely correct :rolleyes:

[Scubadiver59]

Can you add me to your will so I can have your snakes? :)

I had a baby boa in my hands, and my mom turned around not realizing I had this teeny tiny baby in my hands. When she realized, she literally jumped *out* of her shoes and back about 3 feet. My husband thought I had killed her. It was a baby! So irrational. I do get it, and so badly want to force the educational aspect of it, but I know it won't go anywhere, especially when those fears aren't based on facts.

My most irritating question so far is: don't they carry salmonella? They may not have venom, but they're poisonous because of the salmonella in their saliva. Yes, I'm going to die from salmonella exposure from a snake bite. That's absolutely correct :rolleyes:

[GyGbeetle]

Can you add me to your will so I can have your snakes? :)

buahahahahaha! I'm adding my mom as the caretaker. HAHAHAHAH!!!!

We're actually going to be updating our will over the next couple of years, since our snakes will most likely outlive both myself and my husband (more likely me, given my declining health, but you never know). We're looking into lifetime situations where we also provide a stipend from our life insurance to support at least a sizeable chunk of their care (i.e. $30,000 per snake, to be donated to a local zoo or local organization that accepts these types of donations, and won't just take the money). It's something that's been weighing on my mind heavily since I realized they will live most likely around 30 years, and I probably won't see past 60-65.

[Scubadiver59]

Well, you never know! Be positive, eat right, get some exercise (if you can), and you may just make it!

I jut hit 58 and still got my three snakes (King, Corn, and BP), and I wouldn't mind a Boa and a SD Python, but I'm planning on at least making 80, like my parents and all my grandparents, so I may outlive one or two of my scaled children. At least I hope I will.

Now, about my own exercise program... :rolleyes:

buahahahahaha! I'm adding my mom as the caretaker. HAHAHAHAH!!!!

We're actually going to be updating our will over the next couple of years, since our snakes will most likely outlive both myself and my husband (more likely me, given my declining health, but you never know). We're looking into lifetime situations where we also provide a stipend from our life insurance to support at least a sizeable chunk of their care (i.e. $30,000 per snake, to be donated to a local zoo or local organization that accepts these types of donations, and won't just take the money). It's something that's been weighing on my mind heavily since I realized they will live most likely around 30 years, and I probably won't see past 60-65.

[Doug 351]

buahahahahaha! I'm adding my mom as the caretaker. HAHAHAHAH!!!!

We're actually going to be updating our will over the next couple of years, since our snakes will most likely outlive both myself and my husband (more likely me, given my declining health, but you never know). We're looking into lifetime situations where we also provide a stipend from our life insurance to support at least a sizeable chunk of their care (i.e. $30,000 per snake, to be donated to a local zoo or local organization that accepts these types of donations, and won't just take the money). It's something that's been weighing on my mind heavily since I realized they will live most likely around 30 years, and I probably won't see past 60-65.

Well... I'm 60...and I sure took the MOST DANGEROUS route to get there.

You'll probably be around longer than you think. But, I'll care for your snakes for much less!

[RedTailRutiodon]

I'm really glad I've never heard anything this extreme, but I've had people weirdly skittish around my snakes. Yes, he moved suddenly, but only to hide his head under a coil, jesus he's a baby ball python, calm down dude and why are you afraid of my boa, she's laying on my bed literally not doing anything.

I've also heard the old "I heard from a friend of mine's cousin's step brother's father in law's cat that boas will measure you out until they're long enough to eat you!" story about five times. My housemate's pug weighs more than this snake, it's not eating me.

[Doug 351]

Critter Keeper....

I looked down the street one day, and saw a group of vigilantes with various weapons looking up in a tree.:no:

I walked down and a guy said:"There's a huge copperhead up in this tree!" He pointed it out, and I told him it wasn't a copperhead and asked that nobody get crazy. I showed them my Texas ratsnake, then proceeded to catch that one.

It was pretty docile for a Texas ratsnake, they generally just bite the crap out of you. I mean, AFTER I got it home, and took it out of the Critter Keeper. It was about 4 1/2 -5' long, about the same size as my pet one of 15 years, ( which I've put in a Critter Keeper many times.

But see, Oscar had grown up being in and out of those things, she was too small to get out. This snake just watched me for a whole day. Then I went to the store. I come home, and I hit something opening the front door. It's that snake, it's now wild again and would have bit the crap out of me if I let it. So anyway, it had just pushed the lid off that Critter Keeper.

I put some heavy rocks on each end so that couldn't happen again. I went to work and came home to an empty CK. DOH!!! That little clear window was OPEN!

My cat found it a week later. He was staring hard behind my amplifier, and at first, I thought he was just imagining things. I looked and didn't see anything. I looked an hour later, and found that dang snake.

I built a nice viv for it, but after about a month or two, let it go. I just didn't want to have to buy mice for two snakes. It was a cool snake though, it only bit me once on the side of my head.

[GyGbeetle]

I'm really glad I've never heard anything this extreme, but I've had people weirdly skittish around my snakes. Yes, he moved suddenly, but only to hide his head under a coil, jesus he's a baby ball python, calm down dude and why are you afraid of my boa, she's laying on my bed literally not doing anything.

I've also heard the old "I heard from a friend of mine's cousin's step brother's father in law's cat that boas will measure you out until they're long enough to eat you!" story about five times. My housemate's pug weighs more than this snake, it's not eating me.

Your boa is staring at me. Does that mean he's going to eat me?

[Scubadiver59]

If I stare at you...what do you think? :eek:

Your boa is staring at me. Does that mean he's going to eat me?