[DrCaleb]

Brenda Brenda:

DrCaleb DrCaleb:

Yup, I knew better, but I just had to ask.

It's just such a strange story. The only thing that has made sense to me is a pet shop owner who speculated they may have been playing with animals, they may have smelled like prey, and snakes will get out of their cages if there is a little tiny chance.

I've experienced that, so it makes perfect sense. I have a friend with lesser agressive breed of python, and it is fed frozen or live rats. You have to handle the rat with tongs, because if you touch it the scent can linger and the snake can see your arm as 'prey'. Hilarity ensues.

Brenda Brenda:

What I have a bit of an issue with, is that we should love bears and not move into their territory or accept the consequences, but when it comes to snakes, THEY are the culprit.

Like I said before, people are far more dangerous to people yet we leave them wander. We let them breed snakes and be surprised when they act like the animals they are.

Snakes aren't the 'culprit' per se, but they don't have the ability to dicern friend from foe. It's all 'prey' to them, even their own kind, until they are all "ug! I am dead!".

Bears will avoid people, unless the people are dumb enough to feed them. Then they learn people= food, and suddenly it's the bear's fault for learning what we taught them.

And as for your 'any animal', that's not true. Many animals do not have the 'kill first, eat second' response that snakes do.

Brenda Brenda:

Does not make it any less of a horrible situation for these boys' loved ones...

True enough. But hopefully the people who think these animals make good pets wise up before it's too late for someone elses' kids.

[bambu]

[quote DrCaleb]I'm of the opinion that snakes are not pets. They are too stupid to be trained, and their instincts are to kill. Anything. Anytime. Anywhere. The best place for a snake is over a spit roast.[/quote].

$1:

Brenda then wrote

That goes for any animal.

NO! ...not my little Jack Russell dog.

Or koalas.

This is why the East and the West are not compatible;

http://www.smh.com.au/environment/conservation/koala-for-braising-gets-traveller-stewing-20111031-1mroe.html

Koala 'for braising' gets traveller stewing

An Australian traveller says he was horrified to find a live koala for sale at a restaurant in southern China where the menu was offering the iconic marsupial for dinner in either "braised or stewed" varieties.

A sign on the cage holding the animal advertised "koalas" for purchase at a rate of 139 yuan ($A20) for 500 grams.

[Zipperfish]

DrCaleb DrCaleb:

I'm of the opinion that snakes are not pets. They are too stupid to be trained, and their instincts are to kill. Anything. Anytime. Anywhere. The best place for a snake is over a spit roast.

Actually, theya re not even good eating.

That said they are magnificent animals well adapted to survive in their environment--as I'm sure you'd agree. They can be trained; they can't be domesticated. People seem to think that training an animal makes it safe. It took thousands--maybe tens of thousands--of years to breed dogs to become domestic. You don't train a tiger to "high-five" you and expect the same results.

A snake will do what it is in his nature to do. (That also applies conveniently to snakey like people )

[Brenda]

$1:

bambu bambu:

[quote DrCaleb]I'm of the opinion that snakes are not pets. They are too stupid to be trained, and their instincts are to kill. Anything. Anytime. Anywhere. The best place for a snake is over a spit roast.

.

$1:

Brenda then wrote

That goes for any animal.

NO! ...not my little Jack Russell dog.

Or koalas.

This is why the East and the West are not compatible;

http://www.smh.com.au/environment/conservation/koala-for-braising-gets-traveller-stewing-20111031-1mroe.html

Koala 'for braising' gets traveller stewing

An Australian traveller says he was horrified to find a live koala for sale at a restaurant in southern China where the menu was offering the iconic marsupial for dinner in either "braised or stewed" varieties.

A sign on the cage holding the animal advertised "koalas" for purchase at a rate of 139 yuan ($A20) for 500 grams.

Why can't koala's be offered for food?

I don't see the point. Just because in YOUR culture it is 'not done', does not mean it is 'not done' in other cultures.

Jack Russell's are ankle biters and no good for anything. I hate Jack Russell's.

[bambu]

Brenda Brenda:

$1:

bambu bambu:

[quote DrCaleb]I'm of the opinion that snakes are not pets. They are too stupid to be trained, and their instincts are to kill. Anything. Anytime. Anywhere. The best place for a snake is over a spit roast.

.

$1:

Brenda then wrote

That goes for any animal.

NO! ...not my little Jack Russell dog.

Or koalas.

This is why the East and the West are not compatible;

http://www.smh.com.au/environment/conservation/koala-for-braising-gets-traveller-stewing-20111031-1mroe.html

Koala 'for braising' gets traveller stewing

An Australian traveller says he was horrified to find a live koala for sale at a restaurant in southern China where the menu was offering the iconic marsupial for dinner in either "braised or stewed" varieties.

A sign on the cage holding the animal advertised "koalas" for purchase at a rate of 139 yuan ($A20) for 500 grams.

Why can't koala's be offered for food?

I don't see the point. Just because in YOUR culture it is 'not done', does not mean it is 'not done' in other cultures.

Jack Russell's are ankle biters and no good for anything. I hate Jack Russell's.

Hate whatever and whomever you like...free country.
'Asia' tortures dogs to death...the more tortured the meat the more virile and tough guys they think it makes them.

The East and West are not compatible, and it's best they're kept separate.
The West has dog shows, the East has dog meat markets etc.

Koalas as food?
Only in China-ilk.

Hey, Aussie could "throw another Panda on the barbie".

As it turned out the animal in the cage in China for 'braising' wasn't actually a Koala.
A perfect example though of why one must be very careful where one sends one's native animals.


Jack Russells are lovely little dogs, very good for kids and very good companion dogs for adults.

[Brenda]

You must be very scared of everything that is outside your comfort zone, including China and its culture.

Jack Russells are hyper ankle biters that annoy the living shit out of me. They are terriers, which means they are hunters. Since they are so 'full of energy', they will jump on anything they will encounter, which includes ankles. And little kids.

They need far more activity and training than the regular adult who works 8 hours per day is willing to give them. And please, mind your children around them. When they pull the tail or poke an eye accidentally, a Jack Russell will attack.

[Lemmy]

A Jack Russell is, typically, of perfect size for punting.

[ShepherdsDog]

I'd sooner have a Mastiff or a Great Dane. Gentle natures and an intimidating size.

[DrCaleb]

Zipperfish Zipperfish:

DrCaleb DrCaleb:

I'm of the opinion that snakes are not pets. They are too stupid to be trained, and their instincts are to kill. Anything. Anytime. Anywhere. The best place for a snake is over a spit roast.

Actually, they are not even good eating.

I've had worse. Like Alligator, or Skate Sushi.

Zipperfish Zipperfish:

That said they are magnificent animals well adapted to survive in their environment--as I'm sure you'd agree.

I do, they are remarkable predators.

Zipperfish Zipperfish:

They can be trained; they can't be domesticated. People seem to think that training an animal makes it safe.

I think more alont the lines of; they can be conditioned. I wouldn't call it 'training'. They'll still do what they want, if instincts tell them it would be best for their survival.

Zipperfish Zipperfish:

It took thousands--maybe tens of thousands--of years to breed dogs to become domestic.

There's some evidence that it only took a generation or two for dogs to be domesticated. The rest of the time has been spent breeding for various attributes.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domesticated_silver_fox

Zipperfish Zipperfish:

You don't train a tiger to "high-five" you and expect the same results.

A snake will do what it is in his nature to do. (That also applies conveniently to snakey like people )

Agreed. Some animals will never make pets. Wolves make terrible pets, as do many primates. Buffalo, strangely, seem to make good pets but are a little hard on furniture.

Like Shep, my favourite doggie (had to be put down a couple weeks ago ) was a pure bred Irish Wolfhound, which are big teddy bears most of the time, are also known for suddenly turning on their owners for no reason at all.

[Zipperfish]

Sorry to hear about your dog, Doc. Like losing one of the family.

[DrCaleb]

Zipperfish Zipperfish:

Sorry to hear about your dog, Doc. Like losing one of the family.

Appreciated, but not mine. She was a puppy when I met her at the dog park, and for some reason she seemed to love me more than her owner. She'd see me from across the park (sight hound, incredible eyesight!) come at me doing Warp 9, knock me over, and present her wagging tail and hindquarters for bumscratches. She was North American obstacle course champion for two years, even competing against bigger males! A great animal, and I only wished she, or one of her puppies, were mine.

[ShepherdsDog]

$1:

Wolves make terrible pets

We had wolf hybrids....they make excellent one family pets. It's neighbours that usually had to worry about the female. The male was more dog like in behaviour.....the female was the one you had to watch when others were around, and I should say other adults, as kids were safe. They absolutely hated anyone who smelled like booze and cigarette smoke. Guess where I got them