by Lisa Piper

Created on: April 21, 2007   Last Updated: April 23, 2007

Most people will go to the nearest pet store to find a puppy or a kitty. They enjoy the soft feel of the animals fur, the tender way they look at them, and the playfulness that a typical pet can provide. I, however, can't stand dander; and the thought of a fuzzy animal ferociously attacking my leg as soon as I get home from a hard days work is not comforting. Being the proud owner of a beautiful 5 foot long ball python named Dot, I have dealt with many social stigmas of owning an exotic pet.

Exotic pets are, in a way, the opposite of the regular housepet. Most exotic animals do not thrive from human companionship. I have been asked why I would want a pet that doesn't play or show affection. I don't need my pet to do tricks to entertain me. Studying every move that Dot makes as she moves in for the kill is entertainment enough for me.

There have been many people who wholeheartedly believe that Dot is planning to eat the children. Even the thought of this makes me laugh. I can honestly say that they have not done their homework on ball pythons. Dot is just 2 inches shorter than I, but will not eat a rat if it is too large. I have not seen rats as big as a child, but I am certain that she would be on the defensive if one was put in the same area with her.

You might be wondering how we explain to the kids what happened to the rat when we do feed her. Here comes another stigma: We are perfectly honest. It's not cruel. What it is, is a perfect example of the circle of life. A much better one than explaining to a 3 year old why you flushed their pet fish down the toilet. I never lied to my kids, so why should I start now? Snakes need to eat too.

The most fun you can have with a snake is to just take her outside. The public's reactions vary from curiosity to fear. I believe the ones that are fearful are also the ones that have not learned much about reptiles. (People are naturally afraid of the unknown.) I enjoy watching to see how many strange looks we get for our pet.

The worst problem that I have had because I own an exotic pet is seeking a vet. There is nothing like sitting home dialing each vet's phone number in the phone book because you are worried about your pets health only to hear that they only see birds, dogs, and cats. Sometimes they even see rabbits, but very rarely will you find someone that does see exotic pets. It gets worse from there. Once you do find a vet, they charge an arm and a leg because they know, as well as you, that exotic veterinarians are a hard commodity to come by.

When thinking about picking up an exotic animal as a pet, there are a bit more things to think about other than 'how do I take care of it' and 'will it get along with my family.' You need to ponder the social stigmas that come with the territory and your personal ability to handle them.

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