Re: They have good points, and IAN, it's NOT crap..

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Posted by LauraO on September 07, 2001 at 09:59:37:

In Reply to: HSUS report release posted by Desiree on September 06, 2001 at 11:13:54:

The hard fact is, everything on that report is true, although I'd like to know how they determined the number of DEFINITELY reptile-related salmonellosis cases. Probably from hospital reports. And that doesn't count unreported cases, so the number is likely higher.

To some degree, nearly all reptiles carry a form of Salmonella bacteria. Salmonella in reptiles is like E.coli in humans. We all carry it, yet many strains are stilldangerous to us if taken in from the outside environment under a variety of conditions. With salmonella, well, there are hundreds of species strains, and it is difficult to determine which are inherently part of the gut of which reptiles species. And regardless, if taken in from the outside under certain circumstances, salmonella can infect reptiles an overrun their immune systems, killing them! Even healthy reptiles carry salmonella, its true, and yes IAN, they can make ANYONE sick! You have it a little wrong. It doesn't make only very young, old or immune-supressed people sick. To those people, salmonella KILLS! Healthy adults are the ones who just get sick. Sick as dogs! I know people who have gotten it, and at the time they felt like they wanted to die!

The HSUS has the job of doing what they feel is best to protect animals first, humans second. They will use whatever technically true arguments work towards that accomplishment. I used to work for the ASPCA. We had similar goals, and when we told people they could not adopt dogs, for example, they cursed us often, saying we were ridiculous and only cared about animals and not people. Well, they were right! The whole world is about people as it is. We are dominant on this planet, and the vast majority of government and non-profit organizations are devoted to human needs. What's so wrong about having a few devoted to animals first?

I am a biologist and I've kept reptiles and worked with them for over 13 years. I love them. Love to have them around, love to learn about them, etc. But if I were to be totally objective and unselfish, how could I deny that too many are taken for the pet trade, too many are improperly cared for, and all would be happier doing what they were meant to do, where they were meant to do their thing? I keep prehensile tailed skinks mostly now, and even started a whole non-profit devoted to their needs, captive and wild. As much as I love mine dearly, if I thought I could send them back to the Solomon Islands, and that it would be safe (no recapture) and it was needed to save the species, I would gladly do so. I would do it just to make them happy too.

Remember, the majority of people out there are not like us. They don't care about reptiles and at most, try them out as pets with an ignorant, half-assed, throwaway attitude. THough a few can change, most will not. So if banning is the way to save more animals on the whole, remember that real love is letting go.

Follow Ups:

It is only half truths for the most part . N/P Kevin Lorentz 09/09/01 (0)
BULL....plain and simple...p-eee-yeww.... raven 09/07/01 (6)
- Re: I've heard that argument before.. LauraO 09/07/01 (2)
  - Did you consider what happens to the animals that are Kevin Lorentz 09/09/01 (0)
  - ummm... no....and more... Raven 09/08/01 (0)
- Re: BULL....plain and simple...p-eee-yeww.... Ross 09/07/01 (2)
  - Re: True... LauraO 09/07/01 (1)
    - I will second that!!!!!! Samcin 09/07/01 (0)

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: The hard fact is, everything on that report is true, although I'd like to know how they determined the number of DEFINITELY reptile-related salmonellosis cases. Probably from hospital reports. And that doesn't count unreported cases, so the number is likely higher. : To some degree, nearly all reptiles carry a form of Salmonella bacteria. Salmonella in reptiles is like E.coli in humans. We all carry it, yet many strains are stilldangerous to us if taken in from the outside environment under a variety of conditions. With salmonella, well, there are hundreds of species strains, and it is difficult to determine which are inherently part of the gut of which reptiles species. And regardless, if taken in from the outside under certain circumstances, salmonella can infect reptiles an overrun their immune systems, killing them! Even healthy reptiles carry salmonella, its true, and yes IAN, they can make ANYONE sick! You have it a little wrong. It doesn't make only very young, old or immune-supressed people sick. To those people, salmonella KILLS! Healthy adults are the ones who just get sick. Sick as dogs! I know people who have gotten it, and at the time they felt like they wanted to die! : The HSUS has the job of doing what they feel is best to protect animals first, humans second. They will use whatever technically true arguments work towards that accomplishment. I used to work for the ASPCA. We had similar goals, and when we told people they could not adopt dogs, for example, they cursed us often, saying we were ridiculous and only cared about animals and not people. Well, they were right! The whole world is about people as it is. We are dominant on this planet, and the vast majority of government and non-profit organizations are devoted to human needs. What's so wrong about having a few devoted to animals first? : I am a biologist and I've kept reptiles and worked with them for over 13 years. I love them. Love to have them around, love to learn about them, etc. But if I were to be totally objective and unselfish, how could I deny that too many are taken for the pet trade, too many are improperly cared for, and all would be happier doing what they were meant to do, where they were meant to do their thing? I keep prehensile tailed skinks mostly now, and even started a whole non-profit devoted to their needs, captive and wild. As much as I love mine dearly, if I thought I could send them back to the Solomon Islands, and that it would be safe (no recapture) and it was needed to save the species, I would gladly do so. I would do it just to make them happy too. : Remember, the majority of people out there are not like us. They don't care about reptiles and at most, try them out as pets with an ignorant, half-assed, throwaway attitude. THough a few can change, most will not. So if banning is the way to save more animals on the whole, remember that real love is letting go.

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