Venomous - to keep or not to keep

[percey39]

Originally Posted by infernalis

I may get flamed down for this, BUT....

Here in the US you are required to have a license for a handgun, and improper handling of hots will kill you just as dead as the handgun will...

So I do feel that if a person desires keeping such animals, they should have to undergo the same strict requirements as owning a glock.

There is also that risk that if said snake were to escape in a multi family dwelling or a populated neighborhood... I don't think I need say anymore.

YES - certain people with common sense and some education can properly care for venomous snakes, but by the same token, anyone with some money can have a cobra delivered to their front door in 24 hours with a single paypal transaction.

And not exactly all of the people who can click a mouse and enter a bank account number have the common sense or intelligence to handle the animal they just bought.

The worst case scenario for a fool with a python is the snake winds up dead.. The worst case scenario with a hot is a human winds up dead.

Sure, there would be one less fool on the planet to reproduce and spread that stupid gene, however it's the innocent bystanders (children, neighbors, spouse) that I care about.

Some good points raised Wayne, i completely agree with the licensing system. I do however disagree with the statement about pythons though. Any 3m constrictor can easily kill a human being. Now i see so many photo's of people with 3m+ animals around their shoulders. Some people say free handling hots is stupid but so is putting large constrictors round your neck. As i have stated before there is always antivenoms for hot bites but there is no antivenom or cure for lack of oxygen!

I have neighbours with young children living next door on all sides of my house. I let my hot's cruise around in a certain area of the lawn with strict supervision of course. I know that many would frown apon this but i am competent in stopping an animal trying to make a 10m get away. I will also be looking at making some outdoor enclosures to keep some of my animals perminently outside. This i will be discussing with my neighbours as i feel they have a right to know where abouts i plan to put these pits.

None of this is meant to come across as arguementitive so please dont take it that way.

[red ink]

Originally Posted by percey39

I have neighbours with young children living next door on all sides of my house. I let my hot's cruise around in a certain area of the lawn with strict supervision of course. I know that many would frown apon this but i am competent in stopping an animal trying to make a 10m get away. I will also be looking at making some outdoor enclosures to keep some of my animals perminently outside. This i will be discussing with my neighbours as i feel they have a right to know where abouts i plan to put these pits.

None of this is meant to come across as arguementitive so please dont take it that way.

Mate you might want to check with the federales about this as well as they "may" have very strict guidelines about this (if you haven't already done so).... No point of them swooping in and cleaning up your collection just in case somebody see's the right to inform them of what you do in your own property. At least you would be compliant if they do come around....