PDA

View Full Version : the V word


Mustangrde1
11-17-03, 09:48 PM
Yes the V word I know there are new members to the site and will be asking so I thought what better time to fire off a rant.That and someone brought it to my attention another forum used the V word so here is what i said there as well.


Putting emotions aside and looking at the subject from a pure statistic view 90% of the animals that go under this " UNEEDED" surgery by Unqualified person DIE. That comes out to 10 out of 100 survive hence the high cost for a venomoid.

Now lets look at the safety issue. If the surgery is not done perfectly the animals can again become venomous and fully capable of delivering a fatal bite. I know of one animal that had the surgery done and after a check just off a gut instinct had yellow fluid show on a towel " venom " though it was not conclusive after having numerous mice and rats bitten by the animal they all died in realitively quick order "venom". Now as this was a Paupan Black snake and not by any meens a constrictor or viper with large fangs all i could say is " VENOMOUS".

Concider that animal being sold as a VENOMOID and the person recieving it deciding to play with it and it bit him. He / She would have been dead. This is the biggest problem with venomoids that they can become after time leathol again and kill.Imagine if the buyer had a kid and the kid was bitten and died. Public outcry to ban reptiles would be beyound belief. It would not just be venomous but all reptiles. If you think thats not true your kidding yourself. So now this has put the entire hobby at risk. Care to loose your corns , balls , boas , monitors, geckos???

Many people purchase these animals so they can show off and handle a normally deadly animal. This is a foolish move for the above reason I have handled venomoids myself and always kept a very warry eye on them and no longer do it period for the same reason as well as my belief the surgery is wrong in that no animal should be subject to a surgery with such high mortality rate.

Another reason is that they feel that if they train with a venomoid they will be ready to handle the real thing. This is so far from the truth it makes me laugh when i hear it. First off I have never seen a venomoid after surgery act like a true venomous. Also you will always have it in the back of your head that it is not deadly so you wont show it the proper respect needed. If you do want to keep hots or are thinking about it write on a yellow sticky note every time a snake bites you " today I could have died" at the end of a year see how many times you would have died and then ask yourself if its wourth it.

Many people think they also can not find a true venomous handler to properly train them so they get the voids to learn. I can get the same trainning out of a cornsnake or coachwhip. THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR A TRAINER WITH REAL VENOMOUS to teach you. Anyone that says they cant find someone is plain lazy and really isnt looking for one. This is a fact I lived in CA and kept native venomous from 1987 till 2000 when i moved to FL where I had to meet all of Florida's laws and regualtions to get a permit for keeping them here which I did. It took me time to find a venomous teacher here but I did it so no one has an excuse in my eyes not to.

Then we have the people who buy one for the same reason they buy a expensive car or get a big constrictor and that is to SHOW OFF. Showing off gets you killed.

Now lets suppose you do get one anyway and it does bite you depending on species you may not be able to get antivenom in time to save your life. This is because you or the hospitol does not carry the AV needed or may not know where to get some from. Also hospitol personal may not know how to treat such a bite. This occurs because a Venomoid keeper does not do near the research on the animal a venomous keeper would do. Nor do they research the proper AV and where to locate it.

As to the surgery and standards of the surgery. Medications are regulated, but more to the point there are federal laws that require proper steryol surgical enviroments as well as a host of other requirements including full medical records on the animals.These subjects would take hours to go in to.

Bottom line is this is a heated emotional debate especially among venomous keepers. But everyone should feel that if any operation to any animal has such a high mortality rate it should be outlawed. These surgeries are preformed at high cost of life to the animals involved and done purely for no other reason than selling the few that do survive at an eaxtremely high price.If you think that is incorrect the wholesale cost for say a Monacle Cobra " Naja kaouthia" in Bulk is about $65.00 per animal. The resale price of a venomoid is $400.00 to $500.00 the cost of surgery through an unqualified person useing substandard equiptment and medications is roughly $50.00 so now the animal is wourth $115.00 add in shipping of $65.00 and a box charge of $25.00 it all comes out to these people doing it ONLY AND SOULY FOR PROFITABLE GAINS. No care for the animals no reguards for the animals safety or well being.


Ok that was the post. And to the certain friend who brought it to my attention. I will contact Angeliasaurus Peckerectus and tell her where your sexy body and voice is singing next " UM SEXY BODY AND VOICE WERE HER WORDS NOT MINE" just making certain everyone CHUCK AND HUNTER know that was not my words.

Mustangrde1
11-17-03, 09:49 PM
To the certain friend who brought it to my attention. I will contact Angeliasaurus Peckerectus and tell her where your sexy body and voice is singing next " UM SEXY BODY AND VOICE WERE HER WORDS NOT MINE" just making certain everyone CHUCK AND HUNTER know that was not my words.

reverendsterlin
11-17-03, 10:00 PM
I agree in principle but must say back your findings, are you using current reference(acknowledge them), back your stats with the research that supports them. If it's your own research, provide the data. Basically you have given 'your opinion' in a ways that seems to try to prove something. I agree that moids are wrong, but as a critical thinker along with Masters degree student I say you must document your claims to be taken seriously.

Mustangrde1
11-17-03, 10:29 PM
Thanks REV for bringing that up.

One example 20 rinkals cobras were sent for this surgery 2 survived. Hunter can vouche for that.

There is much more but unfortuantely when these people start catching on they stop giving out information. And the trick is finding who is shipping these animals out then calling 3 weeks later to see if they have the animals and how many are for sale. It is very difficult as you can imagine to try and compile information when your dealing with people who really dont want the information out if possible.Keeping in mind that " VETS " are required to keep information but the majority of the people doing this operation are not vets and do not keep medical records.

Please feel free to challenge or correct anything I ever say I am not a superbrain and make mistakes ask my wife lol. Um not my grammar though I Know I suck at that. Remember I called it the Eater diamond back once. still i think a rattler that brings baby rattlers for easter is a better idea then a bunny that brings eggs.

Dr. Bryan Fry
11-18-03, 08:52 AM
The irony of all of this is that its a rather simple surgery actually. Any first year biology student could do it no worries. The key is in the cleanliness and post-op care including antibiotics (and pain-killers). The snake would no doubt in in severe pain (with the gland having been cut away from the muscle and bleeding cauterised) unless the surgical anesthetia numbs them considerably for a signiticant period of time. So, when they first wake, they most likely would be in a good amount of pain regardless. This is actually what the whole debate boils down to. The amount of pain the snake would be in and what is an acceptable level. This is leaving aside all emotional reaction (however strongly personally held) to the snakes loss of mojo and aesthetics It really comes down to a pain and infection.

Cheers
B

Mustangrde1
11-18-03, 10:48 AM
DR Fry

You are so correct in everything you said. Unfortunately many of these people only see the dollar signs. The emotional part of it is actually detrimental to stopping this practice as the topic of debate always gets emotional and overcharged and thus negates the true topic.

Under many states Laws to perform a surgery one must have sterile Pre-op, Surgery and Post-op areas. From the few people I have spoke with that have witnessed this surgery that is not done. In fact one person mentioned that the animal was restrained on a piece of plywood with clay to secure the animals and was not cleaned in any way after each animal was finished and the next one started. We will never stop this procedure based on our emotions. However we may stop persons doing it that are not vets and or do not do it under proper medical standards of sanitary conditions with correct medical care from pre-op to post operative care and medications. Still may never stop the devenomization of these animals but at least stop the cruel and unusual pain and suffering they must endure.

herpetological
11-18-03, 11:01 PM
Just for that you have to stay after the herp meeting and write 1000 times "I like venomids!!!NOT!!" I haven't been keeping up over here but I see you have been busy! You had the nerve to say I was on the BOI a lot!!! LOL's Thanks Ray G. HBR Nice job on the K to 12 deal! Print a few copies and bring them to tomorrow's meeting!

Mustangrde1
11-18-03, 11:43 PM
Oh G thanks Ray you want me to do the how many things at once tomorrow night. Is it not Hunters night to talk about hot herps.perhaps your night to sing say " Momma's little baby loves " lol . Oh boy im in a warped mood tonight I best behave

Mustangrde1
12-10-03, 08:18 PM
Guess this one and one other needs a bump