Posted by Natasha Dudarenko on August 12, 2000 at 15:11:00:
In Reply to: No more british reptile shows posted by kev Di on April 22, 2000 at 11:02:36:
Hello my name is Alexander Dudarenko; I am 16 years old and have been interested in reptiles for most of my life. From what I have heard in the past few months in concern of the R.S.P.C.A. and various animal rights activists causing cancellations of reptile shows has troubled me.
In my opinion most of the conjecture against the sale and showing of exotics by the R.S.P.C.A. is not well founded and has been made by badly informed persons. Accusations by these people are based on opinion and not on well founded facts. These opinions such as the belief that the reptile shows are cruel can not be backed by any evidence. They believe that Transporting the animals in small and secure bags and containers is cruel and do not realise that transporting the animals in large containers in which the animals are caused to slide around stresses the animal and can cause undue harm to the animal.
The treatment of the animals at various reptile shows is generally good although you sometimes get the odd private breeder who does not care for there animals as well as they should. In these cases these "cow boy" breeders should be weeded out and denied tables to sell their animals.
It is also claimed that showing exotics can cause environmental health issues in the form of Salmonella. All I can say to this is that all animals carry some form of salmonella including dogs and cats, why do the R.S.P.C.A. draw the line with reptiles. Herpetological shows are in fact less cruel than more popular events such as dog shows and horseracing. How can a society based on the protection of rights for all beings condone shows where young dogs systematically have there tails cut off just so some judge will award the animals owner a few points. Or a sport in which a horse is beaten in to jumping fences where they break their legs yet not allow people to show and care for exotic pets.
: whats your opinions?
: Watford and now Gilingham have been cancelled already
: whats next?