Stop insulting my pet

bluewind · 04-03-17, 09:22 AM

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 · 04-03-17, 09:34 AM

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 · 04-03-17, 09:41 AM

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 · 04-03-17, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

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** · 04-03-17, 10:05 AM

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 · 04-03-17, 11:04 AM

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 · 04-03-17, 01:02 PM

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 · 04-03-17, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jay's reptiles

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 · 04-03-17, 03:12 PM

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 · 04-03-17, 04:50 PM

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 · 04-03-17, 08:46 PM

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

Doug 351 · 04-03-17, 08:58 PM

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 · 04-03-17, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GyGbeetle

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 · 04-03-17, 10:36 PM

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.

akane · 04-03-17, 11:11 PM

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.