- May 29, 2012
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Neighbors upset with Slinger man housing dozens of snakes in condo - TODAY'S TMJ4
I'm getting really tired of ignorant people trying to push laws on reptile keepers just because of their fears that have no basis whatsoever. This guy has ball pythons...if you know anything about these snakes, then you would know it is physically impossible for these snakes to kill a person or really any animal larger than a rat.
Quote from Ryan McVeigh:
"Please look into more than the one sided, ignorant, emotions of a neighbor before releasing a story. While The owner of the snakes refused to comment, there are PLENTY of knowledgeable, professional, educated people and organizations you can reach out to. The Madison Area Herpetological Society is a great resource, as well as USARK - United States Association of Reptile Keepers. I am President of MAHS, and am open for comment at any time.
When it comes to the snakes being a health hazard, there is no evidence to back that statement up. Statistically, you are exponentially more likely to get salmonella or any other bacterial infection from the food you eat, than a reptile. Even then, the only way that statistic even matters is if you touch one. When it comes to public safety, there are NO accounts of a BALL PYTHON, which is what this person has, ever killing a person, or even causing significant medical damage to someone. These animals are a small, timid snake that lives 22 of 24 hours of the day hiding in a burrow in their natural habitat. Because of their timid nature, and small size, they are the #1 pet snake in the world. In order to have these snakes available for kids just getting their first pet, they have to be bred, hatched, and raised. The majority of that breeding is done in homes by hobbyists. People like the owner in the story pour countless hours into caring for these creatures, and invest great amounts of money to do this.
There is no harm in this man having 5 snakes, or 100 snakes, especially if they are all being kept in great conditions, are healthy, and there is no smells to bother anyone. It's no different than a person keeping a dozen fish tanks with hundreds of fish. The only thing different is people's perception of snakes vs fish. The fear and ignorance of a few people shouldn't dictate the hobby and livelihood of another person, and I think we can all agree with that. Hopefully the City understands that as well.
Thank you for your time, and feel free to contact me with any questions.
Ryan McVeigh
President and Founder
Madison Area Herpetological Society
The condo association may have some rules about pets that would apply. Fish do not get out of the tank and scare the neighbors, so the camparison is silly.
That said, maybe the owner, instead of cursing at his neighbors could help educate them. That said, I do not know of any pet that one needs 100 of. And, he may well be operating a business from the condo, which may be a problem.
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