depressing pet expo

[v_various]

Went to the pet expo on Saturday to help with our society's table, to educate on reptiles. There were two other reptile tables there, it was about education rather than selling animals (no animals were for sale though there were a few rescues there). One of our members even brought their 18 year old burm, we had a really cool set up even if we were under manned.

Anyway, the depressing part came when I was talking to other rescues. I had a nice chat with the lady at the poultry fanciers club table (who knew?). She mentioned she use to keep tarantulas, when I informed her the SPCA wanted to ban them she said "good. They should be"

I also talked to small animal rescue, and was interested to find out they take in reptiles too. Seems like a conflict of interests, taking in some pets like mice and also taking in pets that *eat* mice, but whatever. It was an interesting conversation until I asked what they thought of the ban on pythons and boas, they were for it. She went on to tell me she was against breeding animals of *any* kind, when there were animals in rescue. I pointed out I wanted a black milk, and there were none in rescue. She told me I should get a different snake. Sorry, I don't think I'm being selfish because I want a black milk instead of another corn or a boa constrictor. My phone rang in the middle of that conversation, and I decided I didn't want to continue it after I was done.

But we did get a lot of people to sign the petition, I hope it does some good. I was also offered a free sand boa, but turned it down. And I had fun, there were a lot of cool tables with weird products and interesting animal clubs and services.

 

[Jrgh17]

Gah... Did the anti-t lady bother to explain her position?

I'm glad you got signatures though!

 

[v_various]

she said she felt sorry for them, that while her bearded dragons where "happy" (interactive with people) the t's weren't. I said "because they're bugs*! They're probably happier to be left alone most of the time" she replied with more of the same and went on about how cute her beardies where. Which was weird because all the time she was grabbing a chicken to hold who looked stressed and unhappy about the whole ordeal, squawking and flapping his little fluffy bantam wings -_-

*but now that I think of it, are tarantulas really bugs? Or do you t-heads call them spiders, or insects or something?

 

[Checkerbelly]

I'm not a T-head but I worked for an entomologist once (and stayed at Holiday Inn Express). They are arachnids. And bugs are insects that have piercing mouthparts.

Hey don't feel bad. I get depressed at reptile expos for a different reason. I see all the kids buying alligators and retics and baby turtles like they're just another matchbox car. You know they're all going to end up given away to pet stores, released into the wild, starving, and dead.

 

[whippet]

ummm sounds like a PETA member to me.....

 

[Cam5]

We have fostered fo the local Humane Society...they have a difficult job at best.
There are a LOT of people who are like minded to those you spoke to. And with animal planets's shows that expose the knot heads out there everuyone wants to save the world one animal at a time.

As a parent I have a lot of fundamental isuues with a lot of things they say about why rescues are better than an animal from a REPUTABLE breeder.

After fostering there is no way on this earth I could in good consience add a rescue dog to my home (only based on my own experiences:bang. Too many unknowns and too many risks with kids.

Also, the idea that your children have to be over 8 years old to adopt any dog under 25 pounds seems arbitrary. Just because a child is 8 is No indicator they are better with a ShihTzu than the 7 yaer old next to him who has been properly taught the worth of lives other than their own.

A kid I know was 10years old, brought home a turtle from the local pond his mom caught for him (before she realized it was against the law...they put it back a few days later. He treated that turt like a stuffed animal...sending it down the slides etc in his yard...argh...even our youngest who was only 4 at the time was appalled.

Best thing to do is keep your cool...play the curious but informative card and leave knowing every conversation you have could be the one that finally enlightens the person into a broader way of thinking...

If you read Kathy and Bill Love's book they have some interesting thoughts as well.

 

[Weebonilass]

My response would have probably have been something like... "This week its boas, next week it will be Bearded Dragons. After all, they are considered exotics too."

That might have hit a little closer to home for her :smash:

 

[Cam5]

My response would have probably have been something like... "This week its boas, next week it will be Bearded Dragons. After all, they are considered exotics too."

That might have hit a little closer to home for her :smash:

VERY good response!
As well as birds, ferrets, guinea pigs, fish and bunny rabbits etc...
they ALL fall under the "Exotics" heading.

 

[v_various]

VERY good response!
As well as birds, ferrets, guinea pigs, fish and bunny rabbits etc...
they ALL fall under the "Exotics" heading.

nah, the SPCA put out a letter saying all those animals were exempt. The bird and fish communities were creating a lot of drama about it (as is the reptile community) so the SPCA had to clarify. Pythons and boas, tarantulas, scorpions, and then all the other larger animals like lions, rhinos, monkeys and so on are on the ban list. Argh, now that I think about Invertebrates were on the list! Dang, I should have remembered to bring up that her beardie's food was on the list -_-
Why do I only ever think of these things 24 hours after the fact?

 

[Weebonilass]

nah, the SPCA put out a letter saying all those animals were exempt. The bird and fish communities were creating a lot of drama about it (as is the reptile community) so the SPCA had to clarify. Pythons and boas, tarantulas, scorpions, and then all the other larger animals like lions, rhinos, monkeys and so on are on the ban list. Argh, now that I think about Invertebrates were on the list! Dang, I should have remembered to bring up that her beardie's food was on the list -_-
Why do I only ever think of these things 24 hours after the fact?

They are on the list today... doesn't mean they won't be on the list tomorrow.... after all the snakes weren't.

 

[Jrgh17]

My response would have probably have been something like... "This week its boas, next week it will be Bearded Dragons. After all, they are considered exotics too."

That might have hit a little closer to home for her :smash:

Hilarious, and an EXCELLENT idea.

 

[R.W.]

*but now that I think of it, are tarantulas really bugs? Or do you t-heads call them spiders, or insects or something?

They're spiders, big, hairy spiders. People have always considered me wierd. Not only do I love snakes, but I also keep GIANT SPIDERS, BWAHHHH!

 

[Pet Corn Snake]

Is the boa and python ban in the uk too?

 

[Hypancistrus]

I couldn't possibly be more against banning any animal species as a pet. I am better with the idea of permits or permitting processes for large and aggressive animals (think venomoids, 8'+ snakes, big cats, etc.), but there are a lot of what if's involved with that scenario as well. I mean, yes, keeping venomous snakes in an apartment in tupperware boxes is dangerous... but properly housed and with a trained keeper, venomous snakes are probably somewhat less dangerous than the average pet dog or cat. I am sure more people are injured, some seriously, by pet dogs and cats than by pet venomous snakes each year.

The only thing bans do is prevent law abiding people from keeping pets they enjoy. The non-law abiding folks who cause the problems to start won't pay attention to the ban, either.