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[razeraze]

Well here it is, any suggestions are welcomed.

When I first read about this case in the Daily Herald on January 17, 2008, I was deeply saddened that two pets had suffered such violent and horrible deaths. I was willing to look at this as a common animal cruelty problem, no different than the thousands of cases that happen every day. However, when I read that the defense attorney was degrading reptiles and having them ruled “non companion animals” in an attempt for a lighter sentencing; I became full of sorrow and ambition. That day I decided to follow this case and take an active role in it, with high hopes to help give pet reptiles the same rights as the other “companion” animals.



Unfortunately the defense’s prejudice mindset is shared by PETA and the ASPCA when keeping exotic animals. These groups define exotics as anything other than a cat or dog. Even the agencies sworn to give animals rights, draw a hard line when it comes to exotic animals. This is why groups such as the Chicago Herpetological Society (which I and over 550 members belong to) were started. We are the voices for the animals we love and keep, that groups like PETA and the ASPCA let fall through the cracks. An independent pet product manufacturer did a survey from 2007-2008 that estimates there are 4.8 million homes nation wide that own a reptile or amphibian. Groups such as the Chicago Herpetological Society, The Central Illinois Herpetological Society, The Association of Reptile and Amphibian Hobbyists, Bay area amphibian and reptile society, California Reptile Society, Southwest Herpetologist Society, Wisconsin Herpetological Society, Michigan Herpetological Society, North-West Herptile Keepers Association and reptile societies across The United States of America have hundreds of members willing to speak out at any moment against the unfair treatment of animals not deemed worthy by popular media or typical animal societies.



I did not follow this case because I know the people involved, or because I want to be sure the harshest penalty is handed out. I followed this case in hopes reptiles will finally be treated as they are sold, as pets. Pets equal to a cat, dog, pig, horse, parrot, fish, rabbit, lovebirds or hamster. Hopefully today we can help balance the injustices and end the degradation of pets by allowing them all to be in the “companion pet” category unless they are used for commercial or utility purposes. Even The Untied States Department of Agriculture accepts reptiles and amphibians as companion animals according to their website. A pet is defined as an animal kept for amusement or companionship by the Farlex free dictionary; the Webster’s new world dictionary 3rd college edition, even gives an example of an exotic pet duck in their adjective definition, and not the typical pet cat or dog. All animals being sold as pets or adopted as pets should be entitled to the same cruelty laws that a cat or dog benefits from. One of the largest online adoption agencies called Pet Finder.com has 9 categories of pets that need homes and one of them is a reptile category. Currently just in our local area there are over 100 reptiles that need homes.



Since I was nervous how to best present this to the court and I was only given 1 day notice, I went online to some of the reptile sites I am a regular at for help. With thousands of members on these sites, it was not long before I received dozens e-mails and responses from across the nation with advice and heart warming reptile stories. Every page I received mentioned the therapeutic and unrivaled emotions people felt as a direct result from owning reptiles or even fish. They told me how every fish, amphibian and/ or reptile had a name and their own personality just like their dogs or cats. These animals have strong primitive emotions and show a vast ability to learn. I myself have trained lizards to come to me when I called them, as have many others. Some animal behaviorists even taught crocodilians to come to their exact name. More amazingly Varanid lizards showed the ability to count food items. After being fed 6 prey items they returned to their hides. This went on for a few weeks, then the zoo cut the food down to 4 items and the lizards did not return to their hides, instead they waited until they were given two more items and then they returned. Obviously when dealing with an intelligent animal such as a reptile, with basic fight or flight emotions, the trauma of neglect or abuse is much more detrimental. I myself have taken in sick and abused reptiles and so have many of my friends in the reptile community. All of them will tell you how the behavior of an abused reptile shows in just as much abundance if not more so than an abused cat or dog. Regaining the trust of a 6 foot frightened lizard or a 15 foot scarred up and abused python is the most amazing reward psychologically an animal lover can ever experience.

These animals never need to meet us at the door or hop on the bed with us while we watch a movie; they simply have to live in our presence, to give the keepers the companionship we have been looking for. Owning the world’s last dinosaurs and sparing no expense or time to meet their every need is more than many owners achieve with the more popular pets kept. These animals were around before man ever existed, we have learned to care for them and love them as pets in our homes, that should entitle them to the same rights as cats, dogs, and horses.





Keepers of reptiles take their pets very seriously. We make sure every safety precaution is met and even go as far as to have fire escape plans for our reptiles. We spare no expense for our reptilian pets and go to extremes to put these animals well being before our own. Many keepers have ran back into buildings to rescue their reptiles, have lived in their cars with the heat on full blast until the apartment was allowed to be re-entered or have survived on peanut butter and jelly in order to feed their reptiles catfish and fresh water prawns. Many of us who take in rescues have spent thousands of dollars on a “free” reptile just in vet bills. This does not include the cost of medication, food, housing, heat and everything else needed to give the animal a fighting chance at life. Many reptiles despite our best efforts do not make it back from previous abuse and neglect, and every time the keeper breaks down into tears because they have lost a loved one. I can tell you from experience the tears I cried over a 5 foot water monitor were every bit as hard as the ones I cried over a 125lb rottweiler. To animal lovers there is no difference when they lose a pet regardless of what attorneys or close-minded people may think; scales, fur, and feathers it all hurts just the same when they die.



Many people own reptiles strictly as companions, because they are allergic to fur and dander. Most reptile keepers I know, including myself were fascinated with reptiles from an early age and keeping them as companion pets has been a life long goal. Unfortunately society has much animosity and fear of reptiles. This is easy to understand, people fear things that are different or things they know little about. Our nation prides it’s self on being a melting pot of ethnicity. This is a place where people of different culture, religion, beliefs, and ethnicity are to be given equal natural rights. If this is how it is meant to be for humans, then I seen no reason why different pets should not be entitled to the same rights regardless of their fur, feathers or scales. Now is our chance to give all pets equal rights and privileges as well as all pet owners the right to own exotics responsibly with out the fear that they will be considered second class pets in our justice systems. Ending an animal’s life out of anger should not be degraded because the animal lacks fur or is not what the ASPCA considers a “companion”. So I ask you not to hand out a harsher sentence in light of my testimony, but instead treat this case as if this particular individual killed two dogs or two cats out of anger, and finally give reptiles, fish, birds, amphibians, rabbits, hamsters and all other animals kept as pets, the equality they deserve in our justice system.



Thank you.