Reptile Refuge at it again!

[TPiorun]

Hi Cam,

Thank you for taking the time to write such a good response.

As to the Fraser Valley Herpetocultural Society you can find them at:
fvhs@a1pythons.com
and can contact either myself Teresa Piorun or Henry Piorun
Thanks
T.

[Invictus]

Here's my letter:

I am writing this in response to your grossly misinformed and biased article titled "Sneaking up on a Snake", which was published in a one-sided and rather un-jounalistic manner.

The article was written using information provided by one of the most misinformed people in the reptile community, an individual known for being anti-reptile despite his facade of running a reptile "shelter". Specifically I would like to draw attention to these points:

Pythons are inaccurately referred to as the "second nastiest snake family in the world." This is not only unfounded, but untrue. Some species such as the African Rock python, though certainly more prone to defensive behavior, are an exception, rather than a rule with pythons. Other species such as ball pythons, burmese pythons, spotted pythons, woma pythons, and many more, are known for their calm and remarkably inoffensive dispositions. Of the species I mentioned above, only the Burmese python has a size comparable to the African Rock, but its disposition is CONSIDERABLY different. So as you see, singling out a whole family of snakes just based on one species is ignorant and irresponsible.

Furthermore, Mr. Springate states that "one mistake could be my last". I have never in my entire life seen a more grossly inaccurate statement. African Rock pythons are constrictors. They do not kill by envenomation, and at only 125 lbs, Mr. Springate, unless he voluntarily submitted his will to the snake, would easily be able to make it out of an attack with his life. Statements such as these paint these snakes up to be more terrifying than tiger sharks, when in actuality, their threat is minimal if a reptile keeper is responsible and informed, which it seems that Mr. Springate is not.

The article also states "Snakes like Curvy typically lay between 30 and 50 eggs. Left to hatch and grow in captivity, at least two will survive to adulthood." This grim statement makes it seem as though reptiles bred in captivity have little to no chance of survival, which is exactly the perception that Mr. Springate is trying to achieve. By painting a bleak outlook for the babies, he furthers his goal of having reptiles banned for "humane reasons". However, this statement is outright foolish. As a member of the reptile breeding comminity, I can assure you that less than a 95% hatch rate of fertile eggs in captivity is exceptionally rare, even when 40 or more eggs have been laid. Captive breeding has saved millions of snakes from being pillaged from the wild, and the snakes reared in captivity live full and complete lives.

I submit to you also that reptiles are solitary creatures. Anyone who has ever watched an EDUCATED reptile show on the Discovery channel can tell you this. Snakes do NOT need companionship. The fact that this is Curvy's fifth clutch of eggs is absolute proof of the irresponsible practices of the Rainforest Reptile Refuge (the 'RRR') and Mr. Springate. If you house two adult specimens of any species together for any length of time, THEY WILL BREED. It is a simple fact of nature. The RRR is using petty excuses for housing the two together such as a need for companionship, which any informed herpetoculturist or herpetologist will tell you, is absolutely false.

The RRR is guilty of more inhumane practices than ANYONE in the reptile keeping or breeding community, and this article proves how irresponsible and uninformed he is.

I would like to conclude by adding that snakes in captivity CAN and DO become quite tame. Like any other animal, they perceive the unknown as a threat. Some snakes react to this immediately, but this is defensive, rather than aggressive behavior. Humanely working with these animals, and getting them used to being in contact with humans, has been proven repeatedly to be able to tame even the 'meanest' of snake species.

I am a resident of Alberta, but I speak on behalf of the entire reptile community when I tell you that this article is digusting, and does nothing but promote lies and falsehoods about reptiles. I suggest in the future that you hear the other side of the story from people who are pro-reptile before you publish this drivel again.

Sincerely,

Ken LePage
Calgary, Alberta

[Vanan]

Nice. Would be good to equate the danger of keeping other "domesticated" pets to reptiles too. We all know more than enough about the dangers your dog next door can do. Coming from an Animal Control background, I have more than enough stories.

Bah, all this talking, I should get off my *** and write a letter too.

[Bryce Masuk]

I was all set to post this
Glad to see someone beat me to it

Why 'O Why Does Schramm Do this?
She she so demented she thinks she is actually helping by doing this crap?

I would venture to say All the animals in the RRR would be better off dead then with her....

[TPiorun]

After much running around - we are to get our fair turn!

Henry and Brad are on there way down to the TV Station as we speak with Miranda (daughter and her Anaconda). They are taking our very tame 17 foot Burmese Python. So.. suffice to say we will get our turn. So, watch tonight.. Vancouver 6:00 news!

Terri
FVHS

[gonesnakee]

I say whack her into small enough chunks to feed to the specimens they "keep" as they are most likely all in need of a meal anyhow Heh Heh.
I wonder if I went to the media & stated that I was say a Cat rescue & that I let the animals breed yearly just so I could drown all the kitttens they produce because they will be unwanted & better off dead if I would be viewed as a media hero too. Saving the public from these horrible unwanted creatures. Probably not eh I can't see the difference myself, but then again I'm not a "Journalist" either LOL It hard to believe that a REAL newspaper even prints this crap. I too would like to see a real reporter do a story on her rescue & let the real truth be known. Any of you BCers have a petition started to shut down this HELLHOLE? If so please post a link. I would like to visit her in person myself & chat to her personally, but I don't think my head can fit far enough up my butt to see things from her perspective. Mark

[Vanan]

Henry and Brad are on there way down to the TV Station as we speak with Miranda (daughter and her Anaconda). They are taking our very tame 17 foot Burmese Python. So.. suffice to say we will get our turn. So, watch tonight.. Vancouver 6:00 news!

RIGHT ON Terri!!! Got get em!! Although I'd recommend a haircut for Brad before goes on air. j/k Wish we could see that somehow! Any way someone in BC could tape it and turn it into an avi or mov file or something?

[TPiorun]

I wish I had a VCR to tape it! Man this sucks.. anyway.. Onward and upward. ..

Also, a side note.. I dont think making derogatory comments about a certain individual we all know (ie cutting her up.. etc..) helps our cause. If you want to be taken seriously.. act serious.. not all this ******** Rhetoric it serves no purpose!

IMESHO
Terri

[David Kwok]

I just sent them a nasty letter.... I also saw an article in the province of Amanada telling the reptile rescue off.... LOL what a war!

[CamHanna]

I was just doing some thinking. Maybe Henry Piorun Reptiles could offer to find good, responcable homes for the herps at the shelter and donate all the profits back to the shelter. It seems like the opposite of what were going for but in doing so you would make RRR more of a go between then the storehouse it is now. On top of that people would see that for enough money the RRR would modify their stance and that reps aren't so bad. Plus it's great publicity for Henry Piorun Reptiles. If they don't go for it then they are turning down plenty of free money, so why would anyone else decide to fund them? Maybe because the funders know that reps aren't good pets for anyone. But then there's that burm and it's so tame, and you say all the snakes would go to good homes. It makes it hard for the RRR to look good. Let me know what you think.

Cam Hanna

[Gary D.]

I too submitted a response in which I did cover statistics of injuries due to attacks of domestic dogs. As well as other factual and relevant statistics. So I got you covered there Ken.

[CamHanna]

What channel are Henry and Brad going to be on?

[Greg West]

What channel is it on bell satellite?

Greg West

[Tim and Julie B]

I wrote a letter as well. When did it become common place for news media to become so one sided relying on scare tactics more then fact to write an artical? Is the Canadian media heading down the same slope the American media is on? Can't wait to watch the news! TB

[HetForHuman]

Originally posted by Greg West
What channel is it on bell satellite?

Greg West

I just seen something on it on channel 261, but i think it will be on channel 258...

i just keep flipping through the channels..