Well, I'm not posting my problems. Just something I saw. Anyways, I would PREFER people purchase from me, instead of the pet store here (abuses their animals, don't feed the puppies all day and force feed them by nice, BUT they're not out of business??? Drug front, the media believes, they're figuring it out). I don't MAKE any money on my rodents. Period. Goes straight back into the boogers and that's all.
Point being, when you run a reptile rescue (or at least USED to) it's just amazing how many snakes come in all blistered up and whatever from rat bites, bad care, etc. etc. etc. It's just funny how people have all these reasons for feeding live: oh, it's more natural, oh it's more fun, oh it's easier on me, oh oh oh oh! HAVE YOU ever spent $300 on a snake before due to rodent infections and whatnot? Have YOU ever had to put snakes down due to being bitten so badly by other reptiles it's silly? Have YOU seen what a rodent can do to your snake?!?!
Anyone who feeds live, TAKES the risk of what could/may or may not happen.
I don't care IF you feed live, but it shouldn't be "for fun." There should be a good reason to why you do it. I suppose "witnessing" nature is an alright (I'm not oppose to watching it, I do it at times, because well, the snakes won't eat dead, but I'm working on it), but no animal should be fed live just because "You're too lazy" or "it's more natural."
And actually, yes, snakes in real life, will eat a dead prey if given a chance. They're scavengers from time to time. Should have seen ALL the snakes I found last year on the road trying to choke down a jerkied frog/toad/bird. And yes, I will get out of my car, move a snake off the road, so others won't run over it.
The lady can go ahead and feed live to her rodents. Point being, I was just in awe, because this is a very sweet lady with children of her own and I was just wow'd by how she put it.
I didn't come into breeding rodents to make "money" off it, I did it in order to know that at least my snakes and maybe a few other people who care about the lives of their rodents (or at least, want cheaper rodents) could offer something better than pet store rodents in care, nutrition, etc. But to make a disrespectful statement like that was sort of off.
What can ya do about it?
Plus Katy, I don't care IF you disagree with me. As stated, I would prefer GOOD comment and input, not something to start a fight/war. You are taking things all out of balance and honestly, assumptions are just silly. I don't MIND your opinions or someone elses, but I'm stating, professionals, at least the ones who care about their animals, don't put their animals through "live" feedings unless they necessarily have to. If you don't like what I'm typing or stating, PLEASE move along and don't read my posts. Quit picking on me, please! I don't post these things to start up a fight, they're just my thoughts and something rant, to share with others, etc. Have you not noticed I don't even post anymore? I'm fed up with you hounding over me like everything I do and/or say is wrong/right. Obviously, you know more about reptiles than I do??????
These are rants, I don't go through my life yelling at people for feeding live to their reptiles. Is THAT alright with YOU? Just because I post it online does not mean, "oh low and behold I must stop my life, for all is wrong and I am suffering!!!" *screeches* Nope, just me giving my thoughts about something!
I think people who feed lives are beginners (yes, I went through this phase of "OH HOW COOL, FEED LIVE!") and/or have a sort of twisted mindset or haven't learned yet. Sometimes, believe it or not, this mindset of not doing the best for your reptiles is what leads to people doing the wrong things (setting their snakes free, putting them down the drain, putting them in a trashcan - yes, all of which I have encountered!!!).
Reptiles are an "off" type of pet - you either get one and get tired of it, get one and get hooked, get one and go crazy and maybe a few other things. They're tricky, in a sense, people get to kill something to feed them! That you have the chance to feed live to them. I'm just an advocate for better care and handling and doing the best you can to give them the best care possible! Too many people misunderstand them, too many people fear them, too many people just have the wrong idea of them in particular. I have witnessed on multiple accounts on people swerving to run over them! Everyone who sees a snake, or most, think it will kill them! But little is known, there aren't that many venomous snakes out there, that they avoid us as much as we "try" to avoid them. Now when you see a dog, most people don't go running off and running into it (though I know those who will *face plant*) with their car or whatnot, they take it home and blah blah blah.
Reptiles are my area of expertise and yes there are many variables to it and yes, there are a lot of rights and wrongs to it, sort of a controversial issue like abortion or going "green" or other such ideas. So yes, it is hard to just NOT shake your head and think "oh gosh, how ignorant!" I see it everyday and I've learned to live, laugh and just when I can, share information and knowledge about it.
Now if you have issues with that, I don't know what you want me to do. Pretend I'm all happy dappy and agree with everyone's thoughts all the time? I'm nearly one of the most open-minded person there is out there, but I will battle with ya if you offer it.
Sorry I "don't agree" with anyone and "think I have to be right all the time," but maybe you need to stop and just take a breather.
