A Real Conversation About Licensing

[lady_bug87]

So it came up in another thread about how owning snakes requires a license with restrictions (Australia) and I honestly agree with it.

I mean, take a look at what's happening in the US and on a smaller scale Canada? They are looking at banning the ownership of large constrictors and in a lot of places they already have. Not to mention the whole thing behind owning hots.

Let's be realistic for a second. All of us here may be awesome, great, above board members who know what they're doing and have a great amount of knowledge and all that, BUT we have all seen videos and facebook stuff (and posts if we're being fair) of people who have NO BUSINESS owning these specialized (yep I said it) animals.

From refusal to fix husbandry /housing issues, breeding too young/too small animals, improper handling (more so for hots and giants), poor/dangerous feeding habits and general crappy conditions. Some of these issues end in injury and even death. The worst part is that THOSE are the people the general public associates with the hobby. Not us. So of course they're quick to ban them. No ownership = No problem.

That's where I think licensing fills a void. Is it 100% enforceable? No way. Will it cover your bumbum if a neighbor calls to complain? absolutely. REGARDLESS of how I feel about the private ownership of giants or hots I don't think just anyone should own them. I think its the only way to protect our hobby.

Hell if I had to register and microchip my boas to keep them, I would no questions asked. I think any keepers who are passionate, and awesome, and above board would. The time for hiding in our basements is done. The time for fighting bans is here and the only way to end it (In my opinion) is to license it. No matter the outcome (Legislation wise) one side is always going to be unhappy. Either we'll be unhappy because we won't be able to keep what we want or they (general anti-snake public) will be unhappy that we can and in turn they will keep trying to ban things until they succeed.

So I want an honest conversation. No bullpoop about keeping giants or hots, no yelling, nothing like that; because this isn't a giant keeper problem or a hot keeper problem. this is a keeper problem. we're ALL keepers.

So let's discuss this as a community.