Look, there are no simple solutions. If there was, we'd have solved everything ourselves long ago. The fact is that the field of herpetology is vast, with many aspects and many players. Not all of us have the same goals or share the same interests. But we do all have one thing in common, herpetology. And in this respect, we are all brothers and sisters. No matter what interest you have in this field, from just walking out into the woods and taking photos of your local herps all the way up to a giant manufacturer that makes millions selling supplies to herpetologist, we all share one common thing. And it's not just us either. It's the dog and cat and bird and fish people too. It's the cattle ranchers and the horse racers and fishermen and hunters. It's anyone that has any interest in animals in any way, shape or form. We are being attacked by cults, whose view is that any interaction with any animals is a sin. They want to impose their fanatic beliefs on us. All of us, world wide.
And how do they achieve this long term goal? By attacking the "weakest" of us first. So here they are, going after tigers and lions and bears and big snakes. Why? Because these are the animals that conjure up the most fear to the uneducated public. And once they concur us, they will move on to the next animals. I predict that will most likely be small animal keepers, everything from ferrets down to hamsters. They will fabricate lies about these animals, just as they are doing with big snakes now. And once they make us get rid of our gerbils, they will move on to the next animal. Eventually the United States and Europe will be pet free.
How do we stop it? Easy. Most dog and cat people don't care about us, or our snakes. That's a fact. And they aren't going to help us, because they don't perceive the threat to them yet. So, we, you and I, and everyone else involved in the field of herpetology, no matter your discipline, must take a stand, here and now. Not just for the sake of ourselves, but for everyone. We must stop the cultist here and now. We have to not only save our own hobby, but insure that it goes no further. If we can make a successful stand, right now, the march towards the rest of the animal folks will be stopped. They can't really go on if they don't eliminate the "scary dangerous" animals first. So, we are not just fighting for ourselves, but for everyone. We are all in this together, like it or not.
So, I'm not going to piss and moan about the hand we have been dealt. I'm going to support our advocates. Like it or not, these are the tools we have. So get off your asses and fight. Most of you have never donated a dime to any of our causes. That's a fact. So, shut up and get out of the way.
I've been in the field of herpetology for over 42 years, in one aspect or another. I have seen everything change over all these years, a lot for the better, and a lot not so good. I've had parents that would not allow their kids to play with me as a child because I kept snakes at my house. I've been through it all. And I'll be damned if I'm going to just lay down and let these cults tell me what I can and can't do. You can have my Burmese Python when you pry it out of my cold, dead hands. Let's all make a stand. Stand with me, stand with us. Support what we have, which is USARK, NRAAC and PJAC. Support your local rescues (if they don't have their heads up their as that is). Do something besides piss and moan.
On a side note, the guys in Ohio need money to help contest the court ruling that was not in our favor. I've sent them $100 toward this end. If everyone sent them 10 bucks, I'll bet that would be enough to pay for the challenge. We need to fight. Words are great, I love words. But actions are greater. Let's see some action. And if you just want to sit there and watch, once again, shut the
up and get out of our way. We have work to do.
