Sending out an appeal to my fellow animal enthusiasts.

[anatess]

I just heard that another city in Canada is trying to pass a ban on all pet snakes. The reason was, they're getting too many complaints from people who see people holding their snakes in the park causing a public disturbance. This makes me sad because they already did that here in Florida. But at least, Florida didn't put a ban on all snakes, just certain ones, so we got to keep ours.

So, I'm posting this here just to send out an appeal to my fellow animal enthusiasts to spend just 5 minutes when you go to a PetSmart or any of those big box pet stores and check out the pet snakes they have there. Or just spend 5 minutes browsing through literature about the pet snake hobby. It would be even better if you would just ask somebody at the store to take them out so you can touch them. They don't bite... or, rather, they only bite as much as a dog. And they have much smaller teeth than dogs! So, if you are comfortable petting someone else's dog in PetSmart, you're going to be just fine holding the pet snake for even just 30 seconds.

We are a very misunderstood community and the only way we can keep our pets is if a majority of people go out of their way to try to understand what we find special about our pets because we are very easy targets for pets-are-slaves organizations. Anybody with an agenda can easily go to State and Federal government and spread some fear to get a ban because not many people will care about it. We try to fight it but we are a small community against a lot of you so we are at a very big disadvantage in the democratic process.

All we really need is for you guys to understand us. You don't have to like snakes although it would be super if you would!

Okay, I'm open to questions on this thread if you have any.

 

[nycbullymama]

Love the pic. Is that your son?

Personally, I love snakes. Had a Red Tail Columbian Boa for a long time. But he starved himself to death. Was told that was fairly common in imports.

Maybe the Canadians here have more info. on what could be done to stop the ban?

Snakes are very misunderstood. Most people have nothing to fear, and I never felt threatened with mine. Whenever he was out of his tank, he'd wrap himself around me for warmth. I could just go about my business and almost forget he was there.

 

[anatess]

Oh! I didn't even think that we may have some fellow Canadians here who can directly help! Here's the news clipping I saw:

http://www.northbaynipissing.com/2013/10/council-wants-rid-of-exotic-pets/

Quote:

STURGEON FALLS – Snakes and other critters will soon no longer be welcome in homes within West Nipissing.
An exotic pet bylaw is expected to be on the council agenda next month, but the debate around the table so far has been unanimously in favour of banning any exotic creatures from taking up residence.

“We need to go ahead with this full force,” said Coun. Denise Brisson during the Oct. 8 Committee of the Whole meeting. “We need to follow what our constituents want and the sooner the better.”

During the Sept. 10 committee meeting councillors were adamant they wanted the bylaw as restrictive as possible. “If it’s not an ordinary pet to our area, than I say no,” said Brisson, backed up by Coun. Normand Roberge who said the proposed bylaw “should be 100 percent restrictive. We don’t want any (exotic animals) in the municipality, period.”

While council would like to see the bylaw on the table as soon as possible, CAO Jay Barbeau cautions getting the enforcement aspect right may take a little time.
“Council’s wish is clear and unanimous,” he said during last week’s meeting. “But staff has to work to ensure our bylaw wording doesn’t make it unenforceable.”
He also pointed out the bylaw was not a proactive law, but “issues and response” based and that powers of entry by bylaw enforcement officers was a question yet to be answered.

“The intent is not to go door-to-door asking, do you have a big snake,” Barbeau said.

But Brisson stressed the municipality had to be reactive. “If you see someone walking down the street with a snake it would be pretty easy to follow them (home),” she said.

Could you imagine if someone would say publicly, "If you see someone walking down the street with a dog, it would be pretty easy to follow them..."

This was like a fist right to my gut. We have ball pythons.

Yes, this is my son in the picture. I had a long talk with my husband about breaking our "no personal children pictures on forums" just this one time. My husband and my son was okay with using his picture to promote pet snake ownership.

 

[Vikinggirl]

Hi, you would totally have my sons support, he has grown up with iguanas, spiders, lizards and snakes. He currently only has one snake, it is a King snake, I can't remember which type Mexican?, or California King? Of course his name is Elvis. Lol. I am totally creeped out by spiders, snakes, really any kind of insect or creepy crawler critter, but I have touched his snake, I haven't held it though, and I'm happy he lives in my sons room, and I don't have to see him on a regular basis. I have dead feeder mice in my downstairs freezer. He's been trying to get me to learn how to feed and care for him, by switching the lights, changing his water, and misting his home, because he wants to go to B.C. to visit family. I haven't said No, but I can't imagine having to put my hands in his Terrarium, or thawing out dead mice in warm water, and feeding them to Elvis. I'll most likely end up doing it for him, but secretly wish they had a snake kennel he could go to. Lol Although I am not a fan of snakes, I don't agree that they should be banned, or that people should be banned from owning them, if they are responsible owners. It is the same as banning breeds such as Pit Bulls, or German Shepard's , you can't blame the dog. It's not the dogs fault if they are aggressive, or badly behaved, it is the irresponsible owners fault. I know a few people who own Pit Bulls, and they are the suckiest , sweetest dogs, who wouldn't hurt a fly. It's the people who raise them to be tough, aggressive dogs, trying to be cool, that ruin it for the people who raise them properly, and especially for the breed of the dog, because it's the dogs that suffer, and they get labelled as bad, dangerous or aggressive, when they really aren't. It's the same for snakes.

 

[jlcox24]

I dislike snakes and am terrified by them, HOWEVER just b/c I feel that way doesn't mean that I agree they should be banned. I'm not a cat person either, but I don't think people should not have cats! So you have my support as long as I don't have to touch, hold, pet, feed, really even looking at them creeps me!!!

 

[ddnene]

I personally don't like snakes, but I've never owned one before... they just seem to scare the heck out of me at my house!!! I LOVE all animals so I totally support your efforts... seems a shame that they are banning them

 

[2BullyMama]

I dislike snakes and am terrified by them, HOWEVER just b/c I feel that way doesn't mean that I agree they should be banned. I'm not a cat person either, but I don't think people should not have cats! So you have my support as long as I don't have to touch, hold, pet, feed, really even looking at them creeps me!!!

DITTO

 

[Ftse 100]

I personally don't like snakes, but I've never owned one before... they just seem to scare the heck out of me at my house!!! I LOVE all animals so I totally support your efforts... seems a shame that they are banning them

DITTO

 

[sheshistory]

The poor, misunderstood snake. I've never owned one but I have nothing against them...and banning ownership of them seems ridiculous!

 

[Davidh]

I like snakes, but have never owned one. I hate it when people kill them just because they are snakes.