#liveprey

Many snake owners know that sometimes, getting a snake to eat frozen/thawed (hereafter known as f/t) can be a time-consuming effort, and is sometimes just plain impossible.  Many people outside the hobby don't realize this.  Maybe they just don't care.  I don't know their motives for acting the way they do, but I am fed up with it.

There are three types of people that complain about feeding snakes live prey.  They are:

People that have genuine concern for the welfare of the prey item and are simply expressing their displeasure at potential suffering of a living creature

People that dislike snakes and other 'creepy crawly' creatures and seek to make the lives of their owners miserable

People that don't understand the above mentioned fact, that sometimes it is difficult to get a snake to eat f/t.

1 and 3 I can handle, provided that these types of people eventually understand the situation many snake owners find themselves in.  Sometimes it makes more sense to feed and breed live prey than it does to spend an outrageous (for some) amount of money on a limited supply of frozen prey items.

People of type 2 just piss me off, and if they refuse to see reason, the most I can do is mentally scream at them in frustration and walk away from the discussion, because it will only serve to anger me more.

I understand why people get upset when the subject is brought up, but I also feel that I deserve some understanding as well.  John Doe down the street has this annoying little football-type dog that yaps and yaps, and I enjoy imagining drop-kicking it into the next county. However, Mr. Doe loves his dog dearly.  Yappy is a member of his family, and he would be devastated were anything to happen to him, or if he were unable to provide proper care.

Everyone, that is how I feel about my scaly friends.  You may not like or understand them, and you may be confused at how I can be so attached to them.  Rest assured, though, that I love them as much as I love my dog or my cat.  They do have to eat, you know.  If I could feed them all f/t I would.  It isn't very expensive (right now it is, for me), and it's a lot safer than feeding live (a pre-killed freshly thawed mouse isn't going to bite my snake, unless it's a zombie), but sometimes it isn't an option.

If that is the case, like it is now, I will do my very best to make sure that the mice are comfortable and happy for as long as they live, however long or short that may be.  Do not judge me for keeping snakes, because I don't judge the fact that you think having a dozen yipping and nipping pocket dogs is adorable.  

It's simple, folks.  Snakes need to eat too.  If you don't like that, okay.  You are welcome to your opinion.  However, next time you come to my door with pitchforks, think about the last time you went out to eat.  Think about the last juicy T-bone you grilled.  Do you honestly think the animals slaughtered so we can eat are treated better than the mice I feed my snake?  I doubt it.