Sad But all Too Commom

[Nature's Gift]

Took my mum to her Doctor (on my birthday no less) plus I'm trying to write this as Pinkle runs everywhere, so forgive the disjointedness. We got chatting about pets et. al. and we spoke about her cats. This lady is from the UK and is now an Australian citizen for 7 years.

(under the laptop - hang on) ............

Anyway, I told her about cats being a bit distructive and was relieved to hear her cats are indoor dudes. She has one Spaniel .... and said casually "Oh he's ok but he eats those awful blue tongue things, so I find them all mushed up in the back yard - and they're usually alive. "Tears started falling down my face and she had to give me a tissues. Thing is, when she said it she said it whilst she shuddered her spine.

My poor invalid mum had to explain to her that I was a wildlife carer and she might as well have shot me.

I wanted to leave, mum wanted to hide and this woman didn't know where to put her face.

The problem is .... AND ITS A BIG PROBLEM ... most people feel like this.

We have such a lack of education in this country in relation to our wildlife!

[Shellyjean]

It's the same way here in the states. One of my kids teachers wanted me to bring in some of my snakes & lizards to show the kids, but the school officials here will not allow any live animals in the school. So how do we teach the kids about these amazing creatures? I've even had my daughter tell me one of her friends weren't allowed to visit because we had reptiles!

My mom has phobia about reptiles, and nothing I can do will change that. Except drive 7 hours to relocate the snakes she's telling dad to kill, lol. (Done that!) I have a bug/spider phobia. But I think had she and I been taught early on about these creatures, maybe we wouldn't be terrified of them now.

I try to talk to everyone I meet about the benefits of these wonderful animals and maybe next time they are out mowing they'll think twice before running them over. But I doubt it.

[Leigh]

One GREAT reason to have lizards as pets, it keeps the muppet show{her family} away from my house. HOORAY for stupid people.BOO to inconsiderate ones, tell the silly cow to go home ,then I can take her place there.

[Nature's Gift]

She is home and she's an Australian citizen. She spent 7 years in ER and now she's into private practice and looking after my mum. I'm grateful for her because she is caring for my mum but NOT A CLUE about native animals. Plus, my dad was welsh and my second dad was Irish - Never will tell an UK to go home - if we all did that, we'd woudlnt be who we are. But it was a shocking truth in my face, I just couldn't emotionally deal with!

[Nature's Gift]

Double post - as long as they know we are betterer than them, I'm cool

[Fatal_S]

That's so sad Bring Pinkle in to show her how awsome little herps can be.

I definately agree that people need to be educated. My school and most schools I know of also give a big no to animals, especially anything not cute and furry. I took my snake into school to show friends and teachers, the principal heard, and I definately got into trouble. I find these NO ANIMAL rules stupid, as now children are getting no chance to meet these amazing animals.

I also often take my snake for walks outside now that it's warming up. She just sits on my arm or in my pocket, soaking up the sun peacefully. Then I meet up with kids or even adults, and they are totally disgusted until I actually let them pet her or feel her moving. It's amazing how many people who 'hate' snakes have never even been near one. There is definately something wrong when they're actually being taught to be afraid without even having a reason. I actually had one young girl who would shriek ever time Cow moved, but she loved touching it. It's great to show kids or other people who are terrified that the animals are very serene, gentle and relaxed. I still dont let the kids hold her until they're about 12+, and they dont touch her head, but they love being able to see and pet a snake. They also really calm down when I give her kisses on my nose.

People need to be educated about all animals from a young age. Adults often cannot overcome their set mindset (tho my mother is getting better, she's even touched Cow sometimes). If we can manage to show children that the animals their parents fear are actually wonderful critters, we could really make a big change in how they see them in their life. I know when I was young I never used to be scared of spiders, other bug, or water. Now I really only like looking at bugs/spiders and I'm terrified of sharks in water. I know I've learned these fears from other people and TV, and from a lack of education about the animals.

Some day I'd like to be able to do school shows with my animals. I love educting kids on how awsome animals are.

[Omega]

Took my mum to her Doctor (on my birthday no less) plus I'm trying to write this as Pinkle runs everywhere, so forgive the disjointedness. We got chatting about pets et. al. and we spoke about her cats. This lady is from the UK and is now an Australian citizen for 7 years.

(under the laptop - hang on) ............

Anyway, I told her about cats being a bit distructive and was relieved to hear her cats are indoor dudes. She has one Spaniel .... and said casually "Oh he's ok but he eats those awful blue tongue things, so I find them all mushed up in the back yard - and they're usually alive. "Tears started falling down my face and she had to give me a tissues. Thing is, when she said it she said it whilst she shuddered her spine.

My poor invalid mum had to explain to her that I was a wildlife carer and she might as well have shot me.

I wanted to leave, mum wanted to hide and this woman didn't know where to put her face.

The problem is .... AND ITS A BIG PROBLEM ... most people feel like this.

We have such a lack of education in this country in relation to our wildlife!

Man... that is sad It's very true though, i knew a million people who let their cats go around at night, luckily there were no BTS for them to kill here.

[Arkangel]

People around here are insistent that it is their cat's right to go outdoors. And when it is explained to them how much damage cats do to native wildlife and songbirds they simply shrug and say, "All animals kill other animals. It's part of their nature".

I also do wildlife rehab and once let a beautiful black racer go in the woods behind my house. I had spent hours cutting him free from "Bird X" netting that was around someone's garden. He was cut to shreds and I had to carefully remove the netting with suture scissors. After he healed I released him. Several months later I saw what I think was him, smashed in the road a ways from where I lived. He was huge and it's rare to see one that big. He was killed on the shoulder so I know someone swerved to actually hit him. I was really saddened.

The next day my sons classmates mother approached me and said, "You should be really grateful to me. I ran over a big snake on your road."

[kaijubait]

People around here are insistent that it is their cat's right to go outdoors. And when it is explained to them how much damage cats do to native wildlife and songbirds they simply shrug and say, "All animals kill other animals. It's part of their nature".

Good. Then they should have no problem when that cat gets eaten by a coyote.

[Dfang]

People around here are insistent that it is their cat's right to go outdoors. And when it is explained to them how much damage cats do to native wildlife and songbirds they simply shrug and say, "All animals kill other animals. It's part of their nature".

Good. Then they should have no problem when that cat gets eaten by a coyote.

You'd think that, but of course that's not the case. It's all, "blah, blah, blah, poor fluffy." Part of why I think that cats should have to follow the same rules as dogs, such as wearing leashes, or being in enclosures.

On a related note I was so proud of one of the girls that I work with. She's quite scared of lizards, but after she drove me home on Friday she actually touched Brutus. She jumped when he moved, but she didn't scream or anything. So I'm making progress. (I'm trying to convince them that should let me have a lizard at work.)

[Lura]

People around here are insistent that it is their cat's right to go outdoors. And when it is explained to them how much damage cats do to native wildlife and songbirds they simply shrug and say, "All animals kill other animals. It's part of their nature".

I always like to remind those people that their cat is in much greater danger outdoors. Coyotes, bobcats, and hawks are around here and eat cats all the time, not to mention the fights they could get in with other cats and the diseases they could pick up.

And even if you live in an area where you claim that your cat is safe from other wildlife, there is still the danger of your beloved Fluffy being turned into cat-flavored road pizza. Sounds appealing, but I'll be keeping my cat indoors, thanks.

[Lucifer_Spades]

Good. Then they should have no problem when that cat gets eaten by a coyote.

HA! If only. If their "pwecious widdle puddy tat" was attacked by a coyote they'd probably start a petition to iradicate all the coyotes in the area as a danger.

I have 2 cats currently and they have been indoors since the day I saved them from my fiance's parent's garage anytime anyone comes over all I hear is "wow, your cats are so calm and happy how did you get them to be so mellow?" and I can say that it's because they are indoors they don't have to fight to defend their territory, a door and windows do that. They spend all day, every day around caring, loving people. I don't have to worry about them not coming home one day, or beat to hell cause they were in another fight, or sick because they ate the wrong thing. Anyone who thinks cats are better off allowed outside don't care enough about their pets welfare, not to mention the wildlife in the area.

Oh did I mention I have never had a cat that died at less than 19 years of age, why...
Because they stayed INSIDE!

[Peter]

Ive been doing rescue and rehab for over 10 years now, my forte is reptiles and i do a lot of bluetongues. I have seen peoples attiitudes change over this short time. Dont be discourage. Keep on plugging away at the ignorance as its the only way that things will change. Its a long and sometimes heartbreaking road and you and I may never reach the end of it but its worth the journey because the inevitable outcome is a prize worth striving for.
Every little step helps.

[Pr0zAc]

That's so sad Bring Pinkle in to show her how awsome little herps can be.

I definately agree that people need to be educated. My school and most schools I know of also give a big no to animals, especially anything not cute and furry. I took my snake into school to show friends and teachers, the principal heard, and I definately got into trouble. I find these NO ANIMAL rules stupid, as now children are getting no chance to meet these amazing animals.

At the high school I teach at (same high school I graduated from 8 years ago) a friend of mine that teaches science has a ball python, California king snake, a frog (large frog that eats mice, type of frog escapes me at the moment), as well as a large rat and the rats' hairless father. We take them out sometimes and show the kids how harmless they are and they touch them. The kids are generally more adapting than the adults. As a matter of fact my friend was called to the agriscience room today to catch a corn snake that was found (the 4th corn snake found in the building this year). I mentioned somewhere here before that I am in the 6th fastest growing county in the U.S. so all the animals around are running out of homes. Anywho, the staff at the school were talking about it all day and were very, very afraid. They were talking about how we the teachers should get e-mails or updates about this sort of thing for the safety of all. You would think we had a frigging Cho roaming the halls or something. So needless to say I spent my whole day educating different colleagues of mine about how harmless and needed these types of snakes are. One teacher looked like she wanted to jump up in a chair just mentioning a snake.
Next year I am wanting to get a BTS for my friend's science classroom, seeing as a BTS in my math classroom wouldn't really be very easy to explain.

[Fatal_S]

Next year I am wanting to get a BTS for my friend's science classroom, seeing as a BTS in my math classroom wouldn't really be very easy to explain.

Honestly, sir, he knows quadratics and geometry! And he gets upset if he doesn't get at least 6 snails a week!

People may be afraid, but there will always be warriors like us to defend our friends! We will turn the tide and people will just have to deal with it. And god rest Steve Irwin for all the amazing things he taught the world.

[KyleWeiss]

Humans are f'ing morons most of the time. I'd rather be around animals, since my species is far more "animal" in their own sense of the word.

People are never going to change. It's up to folks like us to do what we can and hope the animals can do their part to adapt the best they can. We can't save them all, poor things.

KW

[Fatal_S]

Aww Kyle, you make me sad. People may be idiots most of the time, and I tend to be against their existance, but the world is changing. Especially in regards to 'odd' pets. In our grandparents time everyone disliked reptiles and other critters, and most always have and will, but today this has changed. Just look at this site! There are more and more people finding a love for/fancination with exotic pets. The world is changing, and if you think about it, it's changing fast. We are a part of the change. Just be optimistic, and try to do your part in changing the world. Influencing just a few people can have great reprocussions.

...I sound like an optimist...

[KyleWeiss]

Don't be sad, you're doing what you can, I'm doing what I can...

...the fact still stands, there's always going to be some ignorant jerk swerving his vehicle to hit snakes, killing out of fear and not really caring about anything else but themselves. That is human nature. It's a primate's nature to hoarde, fight, and be neurotic.

People are getting more informed about exotic pets, and interested, but that isn't changing the world.

I'm not one to accept optimisim or pessimism. Both are useless outlooks. Life and things are the way they are.

KW

[Leigh]

Next year I am wanting to get a BTS for my friend's science classroom, seeing as a BTS in my math classroom wouldn't really be very easy to explain.

Honestly, sir, he knows quadratics and geometry! And he gets upset if he doesn't get at least 6 snails a week!

People may be afraid, but there will always be warriors like us to defend our friends! We will turn the tide and people will just have to deal with it. And god rest Steve Irwin for all the amazing things he taught the world.

Totally agree with that Fatal s, Mr Irwin did heaps to turn peoples minds, Bindi will do the same, most people are ignorant to the facts, they think all snakes are dangerous,saying things like "horrible slimey things", I've never owned one but I know they're not all the same,my nan won't get within 2m of Blue and thought he was slimey but she liked watching him in the garden, 1Hr later I caught her calling to him like a cat, There's just not enough interaction/education between people and wildlife, its time the world changed,yes.. good luck with that one eh.

[Nature's Gift]

They sent me an application to join on a voluntary basis but so much rubbish has been happening I haven't completed it yet. Car issues are just one - but I look forward to being a volunteer at Steve's Zoo eventually.