I am *not* getting rid of my snakes because the American Ped Assoc. thinks I should.

[Corny Noob]

Saw this article this morning:

Doctors: No hamsters or exotic pets for young kids

http://www.comcast.net/articles/news-health/20081006/MED.Exotic.Pets/


The quote that bothers me:

With supervision and precautions like hand-washing, contact between children and animals "is a good thing," Bocchini said. But families should wait until children are older before bringing home an exotic pet, he said.

Those who already have these pets should contact their veterinarians about specific risks and possible new homes for the animals, he said.


Thank you very much for your concern but I'm not stupid.

 

[babsfish]

Wow talk about a crazy article. It just gives exotic pets a bad rep.

 

[Nanci]

What ever. So during the big salmonella scare, someone arbitrarily decided that a four inch turtle was too big to put in a kid's mouth, so they were "safe." Like the kid couldn't suck on the turtle's head or something??? As long as parents supervise their kids and follow good handwashing procedures, there shouldn't be a problem.

 

[Drizzt80]

Like the kid couldn't suck on the turtle's head or something???

Careful what you put in print!! You could inadvertently start a new teenage craze!! :eek1:

As for the article . . . just more supportive evidence we are becoming "too clean" of a society. And we wonder why there's so many more allergies, etc. now-a-days!! The body can naturally defend itself IF it's exposed to the nasties in the first place!

D80

 

[starsevol]

Careful what you put in print!!
As for the article . . . just more supportive evidence we are becoming "too clean" of a society. And we wonder why there's so many more allergies, etc. now-a-days!! The body can naturally defend itself IF it's exposed to the nasties in the first place!

D80

I agree completely.
I saw something on the news the other night that kids that live on farms (and collect chicken eggs and shovel poop after school) have far fewer allergies than city kids.

 

[jenneses]

As for the article . . . just more supportive evidence we are becoming "too clean" of a society. And we wonder why there's so many more allergies, etc. now-a-days!! The body can naturally defend itself IF it's exposed to the nasties in the first place!

D80

I agree, Brent. Besides dogs and cats have been know to carry their own bacterias, cats have listeria and dogs have e. coli. It's just common sense to wash your hands and not to lick your pets!

 

[LBoz]

I agree, too. In support of that, I've given up housecleaning altogether. Just trying to do my part to boost my kids' immune systems! :grin01:

 

[diamondlil]

I agree, too. In support of that, I've given up housecleaning altogether. Just trying to do my part to boost my kids' immune systems! :grin01:

Oh crikey, does that mean I was a good mom after all?:grin01:

 

[Hypancistrus]

Lord...

My mother grew up in a house chock full of animals, as did I. I had anoles, a box turtle (who I'd hug and kiss) and lots of fish.

We live in an alarmist society. I guarantee you there are soccer moms who will read this and start picketing outside of some pet store. :grin01:

 

[Nanci]

"Many parents clearly don't understand the risks from various infections these animals often carry."

WHATEVER! Many parents don't understand the risks of letting their kid ride in the car with no seatbelt, or on an ATV (or as we call them in the hospital, Another Trauma Victim) or of letting their kid ride a bike with no helmet. And we're supposed to be panicking about hedgehogs???

 

[Corny Noob]

I mean, I agree with one of the messages: small children shouldn't have pets.

Cause they're not going to take care of them, the parents are.

And of course the: do research first! Aspect.

But that's it :/

 

[Drizzt80]

It's just common sense to wash your hands and not to lick your pets!

And here I've been licking my hands and washing my pets. Doh!!

Knock on wood, but I've never been a "hand washer" . . . is that really that bad?!

Oooops!
D80

 

[feygirl]

I read this article earlier today and I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who thought it was insulting. I mean, I have two kids and just because I have two snakes that makes me an irresponsable parent? Oh brother. I too, grew up with lots of various animals and my mom wasn't known for her housecleaning abilities (sorry mom), but I turned out alright (depending on who you ask ofcourse). Anyway, I too agree that you should do the research first and many parents don't, but you shouldn't just dump your pets now that you have it because some doc says so, IMHO.

 

[[email protected]]

I'm a doctor (F.P.) and I agree, the article is crap. However, there are a lot of people out there who don't have a lick of common sense, and of course there's the government always wanting to tell us what to do.

Dave Knorr

http://knorrskritters.com

 

[anendeloflorien]

Geeez, yeah I read that earlier. Looks like it's making the rounds on the interweb lol. Look I spent every minute I could down in the swamps around our house catching frogs, turtles, bugs, salamanders whatever I could get my dirty little hands on when I was younger (ok so I still do it just I have to work now so it cuts into that time :crying: lol) and I was NEVER sick.

We're just such a society of germophobes it seems. I mean hey basic hygiene is one thing but shutting yourself in a box with a can of Lysol and an industrial sized tub of hand sanitizer is not going to make you or your kids healthier!

 

[tricksterpup]

problem is people are getting to excited over this. But this has been a known issue for the last 30 years.
I really like this last comment and most people feel that their child even at a young age deserves a pet. Truthfully they shouldn't

But a spokesman for the International Hedgehog Association said there's no reason to single out hedgehogs or other exotic pets.

"Our recommendation is that no animal should be a pet for kids 5 and under," said Z.G. Standing Bear. He runs a rescue operation near Pikes Peak, Colo., for abandoned hedgehogs, which became fad pets about 10 years ago.

When I do hands on events with my animals, any child under the age of 3 is not allowed to touch any of my animals. I have sanitizer liquid near me but I still do not care. A child's immune system isn't that of an adults for obvious reasons. But I do not need a frivolous law suit slapped on me due to a child getting the runs or sick due to touching one my animals or one of my animals is accused of having salmonella.

And to be honest, most people, casual pet owners are not really good at their husbandry skills. I do not forsee a new law being created over this or a massive scare. After all the title of the article is Doctors: No hamsters or exotic pets for young kids. The first animal mentioned is the Hamster and not a snake or reptile. A cute furry creature, i do not picture this hurting the Hamster market.

 

[Nanci]

A hamster was my first pet!!! Not counting the family dog, who hated me and had to be bribed with cereal to walk on a leash. Or the countless wild things I caught first. But my first store-bought pet was a hamster. Hitty Pitty. Man, could he bite!!

 

[Jynx]

Careful what you put in print!! You could inadvertently start a new teenage craze!! :eek1:

As for the article . . . just more supportive evidence we are becoming "too clean" of a society. And we wonder why there's so many more allergies, etc. now-a-days!! The body can naturally defend itself IF it's exposed to the nasties in the first place!

D80

I couldn't agree with you more. After all, we created antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria because we are a "too clean" society. Whats next?

 

[Bobo's Mama]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who read this article and got disgusted over it. I don't have kids, but if I did, I wouldn't get rid of my snakes because of the kids. It's like they just want kids to live in a bubble or something. :headbang:

 

[Elusive]

I'm a young teen and I have a pet snake (and an awesome step-mom for letting me have one). She made sure I did tons of research in books and the internet. She even studied with me, because she thought they were pretty cool too. I have about a billion cousins that absolutely love to come to our house to 'touch' the snake. I'll make sure that they wash their hands before and after they hold/touch the snake.

I do agree that small children should not be allowed to keep a pet for him/herself. Mainly because they arent responsible enough to take care of it himself. I had to get my snake by saving money for about a year, mowing lawns, raking leaves, and shoveling snows, and even cleaning gutters (hate that job). Then I had a handsome sum of about 200 dollers and finally was able to get a pretty 10 gal tank with a very pretty hatchling that I got from a breeder in my town for only 30 dollers. I'm not totallly sure my snake is rare but it is an Albino candy cane.

Now that you read through my rant, all i have to say, thanks for reading through my rant...