by Mehelya » Fri May 13, 2011 9:49 am
Wouldn't it be fair then, if when feeding live prey, that the prey item is given a chance of escape? I know this is a bit on the extremely dangerous side, especially for the venom keepers... I remember talking to one of the local SPCA headwigs, and we came to the conclusion that if the prey item is given equal opportunity to escape (50/50 chance of escape vs crunchie munchie), then it would be the same as in nature, and should be allowed, but unfortunately, the laws ARE different.
I am not allowed to hit my dog in reprimand for bad behaviour, or heaven forbid, kick it, lest I get taken to court for animal cruelty (not that I ever would!)... But I can kill every last reptile I see, because I am ignorant. And I will be lauded as a hero by my community for being brave, and saving people from being bitten and killed by the monstrosity... I might even get a spot in the local paper! I cannot feed my reptile live prey, but I can watch my dog or cat kill any animal that it has just caught, and it's ok, even though it is still alive, hurt, and in serious pain. I can even have a good chuckle as my cat slowly toys with and painfully kills any animal that it has just brought in... Because it's cute, fun, and natural... I can get a permit to slaughter any animal for a ceremony (cattle, goats, sheep), in my back yard, and it's ok, even though I will probably just slit it's throat, and let it bleed to death, slowly, but it's ok, because I have a permit to do it...
At the end of the day, you cannot please everyone. If you try to please one person, the next person WILL be unhappy. Yes, the SPCA's quick solution to overpopulation is euthanasia, but aren't we, as the general public, partly to blame for that problem? If we didn't impulse buy so many animals, and have them spayed, and do our homework before buying, there would be a lot less animals to euthanise at the end of the day, and a lot more happy animals as well. How many people have bought pythons when they are small and "cute", only to go home, then do the research after purchasing, and realise that the "cute little snake" will end up at about 18 feet, and be able to do some serious damage in several regards. OR they find out the hard way, once it has reached that size...
"All reptiles carry Salmonella..."... Really? I thought I medicated my reptiles, and cleaned their cages, to prevent that type of cross-contamination/infection? Erm... What about ringworm from my dog? Tick bite fever? Rabies? There are some potentially nasty diseases and worms that you can get from canines!When was the last time anyone really brushed their dog's teeth, and checked what they were eating while you were away, before letting them lick you all over the face? My child came home with chicken pox from school, we better ban her for life/euthanise her, or I might get it when I give her a kiss goodnight! Hepatitis B and C can survive outside the human body for up to 2 weeks, or longer. HIV-1 can survive for several minutes in contact with the air, but we aren't supposed to stereotype against the people who have them? We as humans carry some seriously more infectious and dangerous viruses and bacteria, some living permanently within us, than salmonella...
Just my two cents, before the caffeine kicks in. One of the debates than will unfortunately never have a happy solution for everyone.
Visualize Voluntary Human Extinction!!!
Rian
If I wasn't me, then I'd probably be someone else...
Forceps. Not fingers...
Yes, it probably will bite you if you carry on that way...