Snakes ARE affectionate

[sophiedufort]

I've been reading a lot of divided opinions about this topic. A lot of people tend to believe that snakes are not affectionate. I opened this thread because I think that such statement is unfair and unfounded.
I am the proud parent of six snakes. I had four more, that passed away. My husband had snakes since he was a kid. He is now 46 years old. His friends used to call him 'the snake whisperer'.
A cold-blooded creature is not necessarily cold-hearted too. In fact, every creature is capable of loving, although the ability to display it may vary considerably from a species to another. The more you handle a pet, the more you get back in return.
Snakes are not display pets. If someone bought them for that purpose, then the poor snakes have fallen in the wrong hands.
Some snakes can be very docile, and often people say that their apparently 'loving' behavior is nothing more than that: being docile. I beg to differ. A docile snake lets his owner pet him, and can take a lot of petting without trying to squirm away. A loving snake, when petted, wraps around his owner, squeezes and massages gently, pokes his tongue out constantly, 'tasting' the owner, rests his head on the owner's head and face, cuddles next to the owner or on their lap, and quite often displays separation anxiety when put back in the enclosure.
Most of my snakes actively display their affection. They crawl on my husband and I, prefer our company, and even show jealousy when we handle another snake. They come to nose us, begging to be petted, and adopt a dominant posture trying to intimidate the other snake.
Many people will argue that it is just a display of their sense of security, the security we have created for them. Name it any way you want, it is still affection. If a creature does not feel love for another, they will not seek their company, and will not bother showing the need to be in another's presence.
We, people, display our love in very complex ways, and that's why more often than not are unable to recognize affection that is different than that between humans. Every pet is different, and will show their love in ways that sometimes we are unable to acknowledge and understand.
As for me, I learned to recognize my snake's display of love. It is apparent in their entire behavior during their interaction with me. Some are clingy, attention seekers, some are more independent and prefer to explore, but they will all show affection, one way or another. We do provide them with food and a safe heaven, and yes, they will come to us because of that, but it goes far beyond the sense of security, or the warmth of our body that they bask in.
Last, but not least, snakes are intelligent creatures. Every intelligent being is capable of love. It is the way they display it, and the myths that surround it, that make some of us skeptical about it.