|
1-6 of 6 messages
|
Page 1 of 1
|
|
Bitter Judgement Call
|
Reply
|
|
by Frawgg on June 7, 2006
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
|
After much personal turmoil, I decided to sell my trio of Aspidelaps. I concluded that a new born baby (human~and it's a boy!) and venomous critters just don't mix. Even if I could build a shed with locking doors seperated from the main house, I know kids find keys to locks and venture where they aren't supposed to. I did this when I was a kid, so what makes me believe that my kid wouldn't do the same thing? I don't want to be the idiot on the five o'clock news whose toddler was bitten by his fathers' "pet" cobras. It would do far more injustice to us responsible venomous keepers for me to selfishly keep my venomous critters than for me to make a small sacrifice to get rid of them for the good of all. One final question. Since I don't own any venomous critters, will I stil be permitted to post on this forum?LOL!!!!!! Be safe and happy herpin' to all!!!
|
| |
|
RE: Bitter Judgement Call
|
Reply
|
|
by Cro on June 7, 2006
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Michael: Posting on this forum has nothing to do with what venomous snakes you own. What is important is that you have an interest in Herpetology, wether it is frogs, salamanders, tuataras, snakes, turtles, or one of the thousands of related interests.
I am sure you can find a good home for the Aspidilaps, and know you hate to give them up, but their are many excellent herpers in Texas who will give them a good home.
As your son grows up, you will teach him about reptiles, and take him to reptile shows and field collecting. Someday, you will start keeping harmless snakes native to your area. Eventually, you will probably have the opportunity to build a hot room or building and keep Aspidilaps again.
So, keep involved here, and keep contributing here. It is not what animals you are, or are not keeping, it is about wanting to learn about, and having an interest in, some of the most fascinating creatures on earth !
Best Regards JohnZ
|
| |
|
RE: Bitter Judgement Call
|
Reply
|
|
by MoccasinMan on June 7, 2006
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
I think you made a very responsible decision. You are a credit to the hobby. Beyond that, I don't think I could have articulated any better than John did on your decision. I went through the same thing when my son was born. It isn't over by a long shot!! Stay in touch.
Andrew
|
| |
|
RE: Bitter Judgement Call
|
Reply
|
|
by ssshane on June 7, 2006
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
|
I too recently got rid of my entire colony of white lipped vipers due to the planning of a family. I didn't leave the reptile game, I just switched from the vipers to gray-band kingsnakes. Best of luck with the new addition.
|
| |
|
RE: Bitter Judgement Call
|
Reply
|
|
by plainblain on June 7, 2006
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
You have made a good decision. If you look at my profile, I had W.C. when I was a kid (largly because my mother was a widow and working full time and thought if I was in the woods I would not get into trouble. She had no idea I had copperheads in the basement. Oh well.) After H.S. I went to college and got a degree in Forestry. That and a dollar will get me a cup of coffee. In college there was no opportunity for keeping snakes. My friends and I collected, but we did not keep them.
After college and getting married and having 5 kids I did not have time for my hobby. I caught hots and not when I could, but did not keep hots in the house. No way.
Then I became a police officer. I needed a job that paid better than cruising timber and computing board feet. Having 5 kids and a wife that wants to buy everything known to civilization can get expensive.
So I applied to become a cop and got the job. The decision had nothing to do with anything other than I would make a lot more money and advancement could be quick.
I was on the job 10 years and left with a nice disablity pension afer being struck by a vehicle while investigating a motor vehicle accident.
I learned more about life and human behavior during those ten years then any other time in my life. Tragedies happen to many many families for no reason. Or no apparrent reason. People who really try to lead examplary lives and do everything correctly sometimes have bad things happen to them. Sometimes I would be talking to parents that were saying "but I was just talking to him" and his body is at our feet on the ground. Shit happens. Big time.
When I was raising my kids, I had no hots in the house and no guns in the house. After my first kid was toddling around, I got rid of my precious 1903 Customized Springfield 30-06 rifle and all my other guns. I kept my off-duty weapon at headquarters in my locker and when I went to court I would swing by and get it. And honestly, if I had to put a hole in a bad guys head I would much rather do it with my fist then a gun.
My kids are raised and the youngest is in college and the wife ran off and now I can have what I want and I don't have to worry about a kid tipping over a cage and unlocking it or getting into my guns and shooting himself. So at 58 I have all my toys back.
My kids are all rocking and rolling in society making good money and, I think, enjoying it. But they did not live with dangerous things that their Daddy wanted to play with.
thanks
Blain Abbott
I want to add a post note to my post. Eliminating hots and guns in my home was a strictly personal decision I made because #1. I know me and I can be forgetful and #2. My fear of bad things happening to the people I love because of the shit I saw as a cop.
I know many of the poeple that post here and have dangerous things in their homes are O.K. with it. I am not taking anything away from you. I am sure you are as responsible as I am but you know you can controll situations well. I just don't feel I can...so that's why I decided not to.
|
| |
|
RE: Bitter Judgement Call
|
Reply
|
|
by earthguy on June 8, 2006
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Good on ya! You made a tough choice, but I think you made the right one. I heard yesterday of a fella who kept hots, DSS found out about it, and he had to choose between his kid and his snakes. I don't think it's right for the government to butt in there, I'm just glad you had the opportunity to make the choice on your own terms.
Instill in them a love of natutre (as ssshane said, you can still keep a plethora of non-vens). Your hots will be back.
|
| |
|
Email Subscription
You are not subscribed to this topic.
Subscribe!
My Subscriptions
Subscriptions Help
Check our help page for help using
, or send questions, comments, or suggestions to the
Manager.
|
