Eastern Diamondback Rattler's

[SSSSnakes]

Originally Posted by Will0W783

Yes it does upset me when people post pictures of free-handling venomous snakes on public sites. While it's not against the law, it can encourage others to try it and take unnecessary risks. There's simply NO good reason to take that level of risk. You've already been bitten once- when's the next going to be? Will you survive it?
ANY venomous bite ends up on the news and adds fuel to the fire of HSUS and other lobbying groups to ban venomous snakes. Free handling is reckless, dangerous and just plain not necessary.

That's my opinion. I'm entitled to it, as you are to yours. I worked very hard to train in responsible, careful husbandry and handling of my venomous snakes, but at any point a new law could wipe it all away.

I know I'm not going to change your mind, but please don't showcase pictures of free handling.

I agree 100% with what you have said.

Originally Posted by 54bogger

Well now everyone know's who the complaining party is.lol
I'm glad to see you "trained" to be a "responsible" keeper, but your also a very judgemental,oneway,my way or the highway kinda person!
If you don't like my pic's just don't read my thread, simple enough. When I got bit by a canebreak it wasn't in the news, and as far as people copying what I do I have never recommended that anyone copy me. With that said I'm not changing doing what I love because of what MIGHT happen to me or someone else. Thank you for your concern.

Now if you don't mind I'd like to get back to what this thread is all about, MY EASTERN DIAMONDBACK RATTLER'S!

I have also been attacked for handling a Rattlesnake so called free hand and posting a picture of it. Although I had the snake restrained behind the head, so it was not really free handling it. I understand how you feel, but when you post something on a public forum, you are going to get people who do not feel the same way about things you do.

[54bogger]

I hear ya! no matter what you do in life someone will complain about it!

[54bogger]

Here's my other female, she can be cranky at time's but hey! she's a rattlesnake!

[54bogger]

[LiL Zap]

Nice snakes! I love and appreciate the hots but I don't think I'll personally handle one.

Now as for the whole free handling debate, I don't think free handling is the best idea in my opinion. Would I do it (free handle a hot)? No way but that's just me. You're entitled to do whatever you wanna do. Just understand the consequences of a venomous bite. *shrugs*

[54bogger]

Thank's Lil Zap, I do understand the consequences alittle to well! LOL

[Will0W783]

If you "understand" the consequences of freehandling too well (because you've been bitten before), then why do you continue to engage in such reckless, dangerous behavior?

It really saddens me that this forum has come to this- I used to be impressed by the other keepers on here and enjoy coming to the forum to learn/share knowledge/chat with others. There is not a large venomous community on this forum, but if the general consensus of the other hots keepers on here is that freehandling is ok, then I do not wish to associate myself with them. I just hope that your showboating doesn't result in any other keepers getting themselves killed......

[EL Ziggy]

I don't keep hots but I guess it's like most things in life. To each his own, and live and let live. The OP obviously understands and is willing to accept the consequences of his actions. I don't believe he's encouraged anyone else to follow his example. He's not breaking any laws, the only person he seems to be endangering is himself, and that's within his rights. Every person has to decide what's right and wrong for themselves. It's like my parents used to tell me, "if everybody else is jumping off a bridge, does that mean you should do it too?"

[FWK]

Originally Posted by Will0W783

If you "understand" the consequences of freehandling too well (because you've been bitten before), then why do you continue to engage in such reckless, dangerous behavior?

It really saddens me that this forum has come to this- I used to be impressed by the other keepers on here and enjoy coming to the forum to learn/share knowledge/chat with others. There is not a large venomous community on this forum, but if the general consensus of the other hots keepers on here is that freehandling is ok, then I do not wish to associate myself with them. I just hope that your showboating doesn't result in any other keepers getting themselves killed......

I don't know if the general consensus here is that free handling is OK, but I do not think it is OK. I agree that it is a completely unnecessary risk. Although to be perfectly frank I would have little issue with freehandling were it not for the rabid, supposedly animal-loving, human-hating groups that will use any reptile related incident to further their own twisted cause (PETA, HSUS, etc.). To each his own I'd say, I'd even have a bit of morbid curiosity to see the aftermath of the inevitable bite. Unfortunately in today's world the consequences of such a bite reach far beyond the physical damage sustained by the idiot who took the bite. It is the keepers responsibility to observe not only their own safety (not to mention to protect his/her family and friends from the bereavement/disability of a loved one, particularly if said loved one was a provider) but now the safety of the herpetoculturist hobby as a whole. But with all that said he is not, as he stated, breaking any laws. Indeed we are trying to avoid more laws here, eh? It is a catch-22. As long as our hobby is persecuted by misguided, uneducated zealots it would be unwise to appear as reckless, uneducated thrill-seekers ourselves.

Originally Posted by 54bogger

Now if you don't mind I'd like to get back to what this thread is all about, MY EASTERN DIAMONDBACK RATTLER'S!

You invited this conversation when you called Willow out for a comment posted on another thread.

P.S. I do not think tailing a snake with a hook to support its body or pinning the animal to hold it by the head is freehandling. Freehandling has been illustrated perfectly in this thread already, holding the snake by hand in such a way the handler has no control of the animal and hands or other body parts are within easy strike range. There are no limits to the possible scenarios that could result in a bite. If a bird flew overhead and its shadow spooked the snake the bite would be instant and entirely unavoidable.

[54bogger]

El-Ziggy- Thank's for your fair comment,"live and let live".

WOW! all I did was post a pic of me and SweetPea whom I love and that caused all this! Oh well I guess y'all will just have to get over it cause this is who I'am and I wont apologize for being different.

[54bogger]

Here's a pic of Jerry Lee and Temprence (yep I name all my snakes) in the play pen locked up, one of many times!

BTW- I hope this post doesn't get me accused of promoting "Snake Porn!"

[EL Ziggy]

LOL @ snake porn

[54bogger]

Here's SweetPea, currently in shed.

[sharthun]

Originally Posted by 54bogger

Here's SweetPea, currently in shed.

Those milky blue eyes look wicked!

[millertime89]

Yup, snake porn, now if only I could show it to a few of my female retics to get them in the mood, lord knows the poor males are trying...