6 garters for 10 dollars in paper

[infernalis]

How many goldfish die in kids bedrooms?

Not all IQ levels are equal.

To some people, snakes are nothing more than worms with faces.

[d_virginiana]

Shannon, you said pretty much exactly what I've been trying to say only way better. Very well put. After just a few weeks of lurking around this forum, I've found out that I'm still making certain beginner's mistakes even after 11 years.

Also, in terms of "care deeply". That's one of those interesting statements

I don't know what most people's interpretation of that is (hell, there might be some people out there who have a legit emotional attachment to their snakes for all I know)
When I say I care deeply about my snakes/frogs I mean that I am invested in their welfare and am passionate about keeping them as a hobby. On the other hand when I say I care about my dog I mean that she's a member of my family.

[guidofatherof5]

I don't know what most people's interpretation of that is (hell, there might be some people out there who have a legit emotional attachment to their snakes for all I know)
When I say I care deeply about my snakes/frogs I mean that I am invested in their welfare and am passionate about keeping them as a hobby. On the other hand when I say I care about my dog I mean that she's a member of my family.

I would be one of those people
Not sure how legit it is but it sure makes me feel better.

[Sonya610]

To some people, snakes are nothing more than worms with faces.

And that is my point. It wasn't about "being well-meaning but just uneducated, doing their best and being unfairly blamed" it was about really not giving a darn if they live, die, suffer, etc... Catching wild babies in Florida and sending them off to die a slow death in a dark basement in Michigan was amusing and well worth the $15!

[infernalis]

And that is my point. It wasn't about "being well-meaning but just uneducated, doing their best and being unfairly blamed" it was about really not giving a darn if they live, die, suffer, etc... Catching wild babies in Florida and sending them off to die a slow death in a dark basement in Michigan was amusing and well worth the $15!

Glad that cleared things up.

We are a unique lot anyways. In a good way.

[Mommy2many]

I would be one of those people

We are too, a member of that group. Our snakes & frogs all receive the same grieving from my family as our cats & dog (did, when we had her).

They are all part of our family. Period.

[d_virginiana]

I would be one of those people

Kudos to you for it! I realize (after re-reading my post) that I might have sounded sort of against that, but I've just never met anyone personally with that attitude toward snakes, so it's a bit of a new idea to me.

(Hell, I'm actually beginning to get pretty attached to my frog, cause he has some medical issues that require me to spend quite a bit of time doing stuff for him. I realized this at three last night when we had a little crisis)
Still nowhere near the affection I feel for my dog, but to each their own. I'd always rather see someone more attached to an animal than less; it inevitably ends up better for the animal.

[ssssnakeluvr]

they are like family pets for me also.. its a bummer when one dies!

[Millinex]

I respect the opinions and viewpoints of the others on this forum but this case is NOT the same as a kid that catches a wild garter and tries their best to care for their new pet with very little knowledge.

Again, you don't know these individuals, or the whole story, nor have you spoken with either parties. You are ASSUMING things about them, which is wrong.

The Grandmother obviously did not care in the slightest about these animals, she simply saw them as a cheap gift that would amuse her grandson for a few weeks or maybe months. A few free snakes, an $8 critter keeper, and $4 in postage makes for weeks of amusement! Not one tiny thought was put into what the animals would go through.

How do you know she didn't care? Who's to say she in all honesty meant well just had no idea what she was doing. Again, great job jumping to conclusions about someone you don't know, very well done and educated of you.

Others may say "but you don't know what that woman was thinking". Oh but we can guess. Six babies??? Six? I guarantee you this woman has seen adult garter snakes, she darn well knew they don't stay tiny forever. She sends SIX off in a critter keeper? If she had any expectation (or even thought about it for a moment) that those snakes to live happily and grow she would realize that critter keeper would be WAY to small for six snakes in a short amount of time.

She's seen adult garters, wow so what? Do you know how many times I've had people legitimately believe that snakes will only grow to the size of their enclosure? Maybe she thought they would stay small if cared for in a certain manner? Hell, I've also seen some pretty big critter keepers, 6 babies could easily be housed in the largest one. Of course, in this case they must have been big babies, with a tiny critter keeper, just to make the story so much more damning on the people involved!

At that point, assuming Granny believe that her grandson would be very attached to his new pets and devoted to their care, she would have burdened his parents with the expense of buying at least one MUCH larger enclosure, much more food, etc...

More assumptions based on 0 evidence. Who's to say she thought they would get bigger? Lots of people don't view that as the case, it's a very common myth.

How many mothers would say "great idea, little Johnny would LOVE a snake, but don't just send ONE, send HALF A DOZEN as it will be so much fun to go out and buy new cages and equipment and food to care for a whole bunch of them!". They didn't spend any money to buy a small tank for the few they had!

Now we drag in a character not even relevant to the story, only to push more blame based on 0 facts, not even gonna bother to comment on this one.

This is not a case of some well-meaning but uneducated person doing their best. These babies were simply "disposable pets" and their lives meant absolutely nothing (well Granny was hoping they lived for a little while and provided some amusement).

My grandma gave me a snake when I was young. She told me feed it bugs in the yard and put it in a bucket with some water. Needless to say I put it in a 5 gallon bucket, with half inch of water, some grass and spiders/crickets for food, and called it a day. I asked the local pet shop and they said insects should be fine for a garter snake, and that he won't outgrow is bucket if I don't feed as much. I legitimately meant well, but the snake ended up dieing.

Me and my grandma where clearly terrible people, we deserve to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law! Oh man, some people's logic is so flawed it makes me literally laugh, this is exactly why parts of the hobby have such a bad name.

[infernalis]

Me and my grandma where clearly terrible people, we deserve to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law! Oh man, some people's logic is so flawed it makes me literally laugh, this is exactly why parts of the hobby have such a bad name.

Awesome!