Guest Editorial to "The Yellowknifer"

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Posted by patricia sherman on September 16, 2002 at 12:16:10:

In Reply to: Sure!... posted by Gerry Binczik on September 16, 2002 at 09:56:08:

Re: "Resist the temptation", editorial: Wednesday 31 Oct. 2001

Sir:

Your generic dismissal of tropical birds and snakes as pets is
misguided, and has to be addressed.

As one who has kept and bred both snakes and tropical birds at various
times during her life, I feel that I am qualified to comment on this
topic. Despite the fact they do have special requirements, birds and
snakes can and do make excellent pets. Dogs and cats also have special
requirements, and their ownership also should be carefully considered
before anybody acquires one.

In all cases, it is essential that one familiarize oneself with the
needs of the animal before committing to its ownership. Unfortunately,
too often, animals are acquired on the spur of the moment.

I am particularly moved to presently address your dismissal of snakes.
The fact is that 92% of snake species are non-venomous, a large number
of those species are suitable as pets, and many are even outstanding as
pets. These are animals whose owners don't have to contend with
complaints from the neighbours because the pet is noisy, or is straying
onto the neighbour's property, or soiling the neighbour's flower-beds.
Snakes don't bark and very rarely bite. Hospital emergency rooms don't
deal weekly with snake-bite injuries, as they do with dog-bites.

Snakes, having no fur or feathers, are non-allegenic. This is a
wonderful quality, and much to be sought if a potential pet-owner is
allegic to animal dander. Snakes only feed on an approximately
once-a-week schedule. In the case of larger snakes, this frequency may
be as little as once-a-month. An excellent trait if the pet-owner is
required to travel or otherwise be absent from home for several days at
a time.

During the winter, many snakes can be brumated (put into "hibernation")
for a period of several weeks (up to three months). How many other pets
can be put into "cold storage" while their owners go on vacation?
Brumation isn't unkind to these animals; in fact, it is essential if one
is planning to breed them.

A well-kept and well-furnished vivarium can provide as much visual
pleasure and mental benefit as can an aquarium. The added benefit of
the vivarium is that it isn't going to make a puddle on the floor if the
glass gets broken, and it is also easier to maintain than an aquarium.

So, you say, what of the negatives associated with these animals?
Admittedly, there are a few. In the first place, there are those people
that will obtain a giant snake specimen for "macho" or show-off reasons.
Yes, giant constrictors are capable of strangling humans (an extremely
rare occurance), and they're not suitable pets for most people.
However, the vast majority of snakes kept as pets are not of the giant
species. Yes, snakes (all reptiles) may be harbourers of salmonella
bacteria. The fact is that every living species, including human, is a
potential harbourer of salmonella.

The salmonella infections that wind up as hospital cases are 99.9%
caused by exposure other than from reptiles. The most common form is
that contracted from chicken, and is contracted due to improper
preparation by the cook. Such infection accounts for at least 80-to-90%
of cases. In all cases, including reptiles, the root cause is
inadequate hygienic precaution on the part of the infectee. The simple
solution, and the obvious solution, is that one must wash one's hands
after handling any animal. This rule pertains to fish, cats, dogs,
birds, ALL species. Reptiles get a "bad rap" on this account by
scare-mongers who would have them banned as pets, and who use this
red-herring as another arrow in their quivers.

In summation, I can only say that most snakes are extremely gentle and
desirable animals. They are sensuous creatures with a bad biblical
reputation that has earned them undeserved condemnation and has
unfortunately been highly detrimental to their survival.

Patricia Sherman
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Follow Ups:

Top notch! N/P Gerry Binczik 09/16/02 (0)