Taking snakes out and about

[alyndria]

Snakes aren't the only unusual things you'll encounter if you go out. I've seen many a large parrot out with people. And once I saw someone out with a kangaroo.

..you can have a kangaroo as a pet? weird.

I once saw a man with an iguana on the subway. It was a fairly large one- as in, he had it sitting on the seat next to him. He had it leashed and everything, but I was still quite shocked. I absolutely love herps, and iguanas are awesome, but I had never seen such an uncommon pet in public in the city before.

[..and I realize that iguanas aren't exactly uncommon anymore, but you know what I mean.]

 

[Plissken]

I don't recall saying I go out of my way to upset/shock people as you seem to be implying

Don't make assumptions about what I am implying please... I never said or meant anything of the sort. I said that I don't feel comfortable taking my snakes out because I don't want to frighten anyone... I fail to see where I was implying that hana deliberates tries to shock innocent bystanders with her snakes. :shrugs:

 

[Wintermute]

People have phobias of dogs too ya know. It's different if you're just out with the snake verses walking up to every person and asking them if they want to see the snake.
hana

"Hi, would you like to see my snake?" :sidestep: Now there's a way to get arrested for sure!

Joking aside, while it's not something I'd choose to do with my snake, I was curious, and it's interesting to know about how other people do things. I only have one snake, and it's very nervous, plus I live a long bus ride from any reptile shops. If I had a snake that was very chilled out, and the shop people asked if they could see it, and I lived closer, well then I might consider it. It's also very wet, windy and cold here most of the year, which is why I've had Ripley for over two years and still haven't taken it out into the garden for some fresh air yet. (I'm still waiting for global warming to kick in )

Even taking dogs into pet shops is quite weird over here. I've seen it a few times, but generally other people in the shop have frowned and looked disapproving. I only ever take my dog on walks to a wasteground where over dog owners walk theirs. He hardly ever comes to town, as he has a nasty habit of jumping up at people, and poking his nose into their bags to see if they have any treats for him. While I know he's a big baby and wouldn't hurt a fly, other people don't, and could easily be quite nervous of dogs.

As with phobias, while it's not my responsibility to protect people from anything that might upset them, I still feel that walking around with a snake is a bit of a gamble. I have probably the stupidest phobia ever - shiny stickers, and the labels on clothes. If I'm out and about in town, and the person in front of me has the label on their t-shirt sticking out on their neck, I have to cross the road or go into a shop to get away. (Even writing this is freaking me out a bit). I've never met anyone with the same phobia as me, but I've met plenty of people scared of snakes. I certainly wouldn't want to meet people with big shiny stickers on their hands saying to me, "go on, have a look, don't worry it won't hurt you."

There's nothing wrong with advertising that you keep snakes, I just think I'd rather wear a snakey t-shirt than have one crawling about and into my purse as I try and find the right change to pay for the aspen!

Hannah
(by the way hana, nice to know there are other Red Dwarf fans out there :wavey: )

 

[hana]

Don't make assumptions about what I am implying please... I never said or meant anything of the sort. I said that I don't feel comfortable taking my snakes out because I don't want to frighten anyone... I fail to see where I was implying that hana deliberates tries to shock innocent bystanders with her snakes. :shrugs:

Quote:
Originally Posted by hana
It's a lot more common than you think. To me that argument holds no water. People are phobic of buttons, cotton, circles, balloons, almost anything you can think of. I don't believe in limiting my self for fear of what others might think.



I try to limit how much I alarm other people. True, you can't avoid everything, but I don't see the point in doing something which is guaranteed to scare someone if I can just as easily avoid it. I don't think it's particularily limiting to me. I don't need to take my snakes out, nor do I have any real desire to. I don't see any point, but that's just me.

Ok sure... And might I add, you're a wonderful tap dancer..


hana

 

[Plissken]

Ok sure... And might I add, you're a wonderful tap dancer..


hana

You can think whatever you like about my comments... I know what I meant and I'm not suddenly going to forget that because you say so!

Believe me or believe not... why should it matter?

 

[hana]

Believe me or believe not... why should it matter?

Because you're the one who cares so much about what others think. :shrugs:



hana

 

[scalesnthings]

Hmm.. interesting debate. We take only the snakes we know can handle it out with us on occasion.. I think we get more people educated about them than anything else, and no one has ever even made a big deal about it. Most don't even notice them as we walk past. As far as stressing them, where is the line drawn between stressing them and socializing them? :shrugs: (Bring on the flaming for that one...) My old job, Alice Cooperstown restraunt, practically begs me to bring my snakes down during their events. I've done it twice where we've set up a booth and had people come look and learn. We actually drew more people than the event headliners last time.. The snakes and lizards do just fine there, and I think on some level they enjoy the exercise and getting out of their cage, but maybe I'm just crazy.. we never take them inside the restraunt, though last time Alice was there and they wanted to bring our RTB up to show him, but I wouldn't let them.. lol.. anyway, I see nothing wrong with it. If a snake ever was obviously stressed by it, we wouldn't take that one out again. Simple. :shrugs:

 

[serpentina]

I can see both sides of this debate (I'll call it). As for me I tend to lean towards what Plissken was trying to say. I do believe that people need to be educated about snakes, but to take a snake out in public IMO is risky. First, I would be afraid harm would come to my snake from a scared or surprised person. People react before they think sometimes. Secondly, I firmly believe that it is stressful to the snakes, no matter what people say about theirs. A snakes natural tendancies are to stay hidden most of the time, unless they are hunting or thermoregulating. I'm not saying I would never take mine out in public. I just think there are times and places for it. That's just my 2 cents.

 

[BeckyG]

I've only take one snake out in public, and that was my calmest one, and it was by request. A girl in my karate class wanted to see my snakes, but was not allowed to come over to my house, (Her parents are unbelievably strict), so I took my snow to her family's convenience store.

I don't take mine out because I'd be afraid for my snake's safety. Most people around here will kill snakes just as a knee jerk reaction, even if it is a pet.

 

[MegF.]

I do take my snakes out. Usually only to the petstore for supplies. The workers there know me well and love to see my animals. I also find that a mellow snake in public can be the best ambassador for the species that you can find. There's always a kid or two in the petstore that want to touch it, and this in turn makes the fearful people (usually adults) more curious than afraid. They also figure if a child can touch it, they can. I've had more than a few people claim that they were terrified of snakes but after seeing how calm mine were, they worked up the courage to touch them. They are always amazed at how soft they are and while most don't grow to love them, they do have less fear. I take mine in the front yard quite a bit too. The neighbor kids love the snakes, and between my two dogs and a snake or two, I will have half the neighborhood kids over. They get educated and learn to respect these animals. It all depends upon your animal though. I have a couple that I will not take into public as they stress easily and are prone to bite. The rest have all made trips either into the front yard, or to the petstore. Here's a picture of some of the neighbor kids with my Okeetee, Acatl.

 

[dionythicus]

For Hallowe'en I usually have one of the snakes out as we are handing out candy. Some ask, "Is it real?" The boys are the real chickens, most of the girls are ok. Parents sometimes won't come up onto the porch with their kids. But the best one was a three year old girl who's mom pointed out my snake ambassador Cali king, Elvis, that I was holding. The little girl lit up and said it looked like the one they have, and she reached out to pet him. That made my day.

I also have neighbors stop by when I'm taking pics in the front yard. So far, I haven't gotten anything negative or abusive.

 

[Llewella]

I dont take my snakes out, I dont have that kind of relation with my snakes.

There are some discussions about this on the dutch reptile fora; and I think you can even get a ticket and loose your snake when you walk around the street with a snake around your neck.


For myself; I dont want to stress out my animals.
I dont take out my reptiles or birds, they cant say to me if they like it or not.
At the most I would take pictures in the backyard, but I did that once with one of my snakes; and I noticed she didnt feel safe.

But once me and my bf took one of our cats for a walk; without a line or such, he just walked with us to the park; or I took a cat with me on a trip with the bus and such; very well trained cats who dont get scared and listen very well, almost if they are dogs.
I would do it with my cats; but def. not with the birds or reptiles.

First time I held a snake was when a girl from my old neighbourhood who I was friends with took her snake for a walk to the park.

 

[MulatteMadness]

Phobia of dogs is not common, however. Phobia of snakes IS. I know that if I take a snake out, I'm almost certain to startle someone.

I feel you and I are speaking through our differing locations... you NEVER see anything unusual being 'walked' here. If I took a snake out I'd probably make the local paper!

I just don't see any reason to take my snakes out 'just because.' I could put my cats on leashes and walk them, but I don't because it is not beneficial to them or to me.

for starters...
I work at a pet store... we have a few frequent snakes... in fact... one of them was my way to get over my fear... i was once chased by a snake as a kid... but when i met Kyoto i fell in love... his ability to calm and care... to show that he wanted to be around you... and that he shouldnt be feared...
My co-workers and i love brining our pets to work and say hey and check up on each other... there are 5 of us with snakes 3 of them newly acquired... but we love being able to take them out...
Yes the hey look at me is a factor... but u should see how many little kids or even adults are in awe of it... things work great for the littler ones because they are much less intimidating, however the oldest, kyoto has done amazingly well with education of the public...

So to wrap it up... if ur herp can handle it... y not? :noevil:

 

[Plissken]

Because you're the one who cares so much about what others think. :shrugs:

Is it really any of your business what I think about other peoples' opinions of me? You seem to have a problem with the fact that my point of view is not the same as yours. Not taking my snakes out is a personal choice on my part, for a number of reasons.

So to wrap it up... if ur herp can handle it... y not?

I don't wish to take my snakes out - that is why not. Whether or not other people like or dislike it, I have no desire to take them out, and I don't see why I should just because I can. :shrugs:

 

[marty.warwick]

If you don't wish to, then don't. The main debate is whether they should IF they want to. Not that you should IF you can.
I've only ever taken Travis down the road once, when I was holding him, and my friend asked me to come somewhere for a couple minutes, so I just brought the T-Man along. And he was fine, just watching the busy world around him.
I haven't done it since because, like you, I have no real need, or desire, to do so.

 

[Plissken]

If you don't wish to, then don't. The main debate is whether they should IF they want to. Not that you should IF you can.

Well, that's why I'm sort of confused with all this... I have no idea why people are still picking up on this when I've said quite plainly I have no desire to take my corns out. It is nothing to do with the fact I care what people think of me... I just don't want to cause stress to either animal or human party. As far as I can see there is nothing to discuss there... it's just my opinion.

I have worked in a reptile shop as well, and 75% of the responses to my handling snakes were fearful. I don't need or want to handle my snakes in the streets, so why should I? :shrugs:

 

[marty.warwick]

I think to sum it up:

Those who don't want to take their herps out; fine. It's not a bad thing. It's not like it's beneficial.

Those who want to take their herps; can, (not saying they should) for whatever reason.

It's like people smoking in public, I hate smoking, like a lot of people. But I also accept that a lot of people do smoke, whether I like it or not; that's life. And so if people didn't like seeing Travis out in public, they would just have to deal with it. Like I deal with the smokers.
But of course, as previously stated, I feel no desire to take him out. lol


Note: This post is in no way intended to be a crack at people who smoke. It was merely an example. I have no problem with you lol.

 

[Plissken]

Thanks for the sum-up. I have no desire to continue this, so I hope we can leave the thread at this. We'll just have to agree to disagree.