Our Pets

I get asked certain questions about the kind of pets I have/had from people that is in my opinion stupid and over time very irritating to hear.  Why would you have them, they are dangerous?

First, why do people have pets?  There are many reasons why but most might say companionship and for protection.  Still People say why snakes, you can’t walk them or “play” like a dog or cat.  I explain that people have birds, rodents, fish, and turtles and so on; you can’t walk or “play” with them.  Their reply, “But their dangerous and will get out and eat your neighbors pets.  I have 2 ball pythons one is 4 feet and the other is just over 2 feet.  

On average depending on the sex of a ball python and if living in captivity range in length between 3-5 feet, their girth (with of body) is wide however their head is small compare to the rest of their body.  So even as adults they don’t have the capability to eat anything larger than a medium size rat.

As far as them being dangerous, they are no more dangerous than have a cat or dog that’s trained.  Any dog are cat can and will bite their owners for no reason because their animals.  That being said yes I have been “tagged” (bite) by both snakes. The older “tagged” me once when I fed him while holding the rat with my hand, my stupidity. The younger would strike out defensively at anyone who walked by his cage for the first 3 month we had him, this is normal due to him still being a “baby” and stress of a new environment.

As far as “playing” with them, I take them out of their cage at least once a week to hold them, let them loose(under supervision) to stretch out and explore. In addition they  need more “special” care than a regular dog or cat, considering you need to make sure the temperature and humidity in their cage is within range for the type of snake and unlike a dog or cat you can’t just put food in a bowl and they eat whenever they feels like .  You leave a live rat for them and the rat my attack them if they don't eat and a pre-killed or frozen thawed will decompose. This may not be good for your snake health-wise and on top of that it smells when the decompose.

This brings to another pet I used to have, an American Bull Terrier aka a Pit-bull.  People and the media portray this breed as a dangerous animal and a killer.  This information is highly inaccurate based off what the media says and dog fighting, but they never talk about other breeds of dogs that have bitten people or attack other animals.  This goes to show how people are biased towards this breed of dog.

Pit bulls in general have better temperament (86%) than your common “family” dog such as BEAGLE (80.3%), CHIHUAHUA(71.1%), GOLDEN RETRIEVER(84.6) just to name a few, this is according to the American Temperament Test Society.

Some little know information, those who remember the Little Rascals TV show Petey the dog was a Pit Bull.  The most decorated war dog of World War I and the only dog to be promoted to sergeant through combat was Sergeant Stubby. His awards were:
*  3 Service Stripes

* Yankee Division YD Patch

* French Medal Battle of Verdun

* 1st Annual American Legion Convention Medal

* New Haven WW1 Veterans Medal

* Republic of France Grande War Medal

* St Mihiel Campaign Medal

* Wound stripe, replaced with Purple Heart when introduced in 1932

* Chateau Thierry Campaign Medal

* 6th Annual American Legion Convention

* Humane Education Society Gold Medal

What is really bad is now the military has the gall to disrespect this military veteran who served in battle by placing a ban on owning the breed or even it mixed with another breed from military installations. This means if your dog is or looks like it might be a pit the dog has to go, refusing to get rid of your pet means jail for the owner, your dog confiscated and destroyed.

This brings to my pit, Jasmine.  People thought she is mean because she barks when people come to the door, what dog doesn’t.  Once she is told it’s OK she goes up to give a hug and kiss.  This dog was the biggest baby I have ever seen and at times acted like a lapdog.  Yes we treated her that way, but she also had rules she had to go by which for the most part followed.  The only thing vicious about that dog was her farts.  There were friends and family who were scared of her at first but came to learned how friendly and playful she was.  And a few time have protected our home from break-in, attempted assault and on one occasion prevented a break-in of our neighbor who was bed ridden

So why do we have ball pythons and used to own a pit?  Because my family and I wanted them, these animals are misunderstood creatures and should not be associated with being dangerous.  Jasmine was the most well behaved dog I have ever had since childhood.  We Love them and they are our family, sadly we no longer have Jasmine but she gave such joy to us.  Anyone who has owns these animals and has done the research on how to care for them knows how great they are as pets.  I have the utmost respect for those who own and care for them and for those who run Pit Bull rescues so they can be retrained and adopted out. Unfortunately due to their bad press of being vicious and with homeowners insurers refusing to insure homes or apartment buildings in order  to have Pit Bulls, they are getting harder to adopt out. In my opinion, and many other will share this thought, that this is a shame to treat a wonderful breed this way.  It is a shame to treat any breed of animal that way.