Posted on 09/22/2009 12:44:22 PM PDT by JoeProBono
DELTONA, Fla. -- Snake owners say they love reptiles.
The slithery creatures have made local headlines lately after an 18-foot Burmese python was found in the back yard of an Apopka home.
But why do people make the potentially dangerous creatures as pets?
A group of snake owners in Deltona said they just can't get enough of the reptiles.
They're cold-blooded, sometimes poisonous, and depicted as evil, but Ron Doria, a white-collar medical sales director, can't get enough of his snakes.
"They have such a bad rap of being something so vicious and so violent. It's not like that. It's just, it's false," Doria said.
Doria keeps over 40 snakes in his Deltona home. He shares his passion with a friend, Brian Radenberg, who owns over 100 snakes. Radenberg made the news when the city of Deltona tried unsuccessfully last year to force him to get rid of his venomous snakes.
There's also Scott Quint, a software engineer who owns 35 snakes. Why do these men have such a fascination with the animals?
For Quint, it's the science.
"They're beautiful animals. I think, evolutionally speaking, they're one of the most unique animals," Quint said.
For Radenberg, it's the way they feel.
"They just kind of crawl around on you, and I don't know, they're comfortable," Radenberg said.
And for Doria, who owns rattlesnakes, it's the thrill.
"I like the risk, a little bit, of knowing we have something ... control something that doesn't want to be controlled," Doria said.
The men said because they have the proper caging, proper licenses, and the experience to handle snakes, it mitigates any danger. They get frustrated by the negative stereotypes assigned to snake owners....
Like chicken, but tougher and stringy. More like like gator bites.
...people have them for weird Freudian reasons, I guess............
My college debate coach had a small python - I think it was maybe two feet long. Certainly wasn’t as long as my arm.
Since I was the only girl and the only non-hippie on the debate team, I was usually the only scent wearer in the place, so the snake took a liking to me and would crawl up my arm and drape himself around my shoulders, flicking his tongue at my neck occasionally (I think that’s how they smell).
Satan was a sweet snake, and I never minded him using me as his personal jungle gym.
YES!
I meant the big dangerous snakes.
Sorry I wasn’t clear.
LOL!
vbg!!
yeah and i have heard of dogs mauling kids so maybe we should ban that too.
i am not big on snakes myself but i dont think there is anything wrong if someone wants to own one in general
By looking at these pics, I can see that women sure like um.
Guys never say, “Your snake is bigger than mine”. We just don’t go there.
Why do people vote for DemocRATS?
I’m not trying to get into a heated discussion. How would you feel if your next door neighbor had a pet Anaconda or Rock Python as a pet.. and you had kids.
I’m just saying..... these types of animals should be in zoos not homes.
“But why do people make the potentially dangerous creatures as pets? “
geez dogs are “potentially” dangerous. as are cats, rats, field mice and fish for crying out loud
probably not as nervous as i feel now with a neighbor who has two rottweilers and a pitbull. i do have a 3 year old and every so often i wonder if one of those dogs is going to snap.
any other questions
Nope.
Good man.
ok then
cheerio
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.