LovemyBernie
New member
Dragon owners and lovers,
I want to inform you all of something that I found very disturbing on the ASPCA web page. In their anti-exotic animal trade page, they raise excellent points on the cruelty of capturing wild animals. However, the photo on the page? A Bearded Dragon. This is the webpage: http://www.aspca.org/Fight-Animal-Cruelty/exotic-pet-faq
You can understand that as a doting dragon caretaker, who adopted her bred, NOT WILD CAUGHT dragon, that this accusation that all Beardies should not be kept as pets, greatly upset me. Now, I like the ASPCA and they do wonderful work in rescuing animals. So I wrote this letter to them.
"To the leaders and members of the ASPCA,
I am a lover of all creatures, thus I wholly support the wonderful work you do to rescue animals in need nationwide. However, I find it sad and troubling that you specifically mention Bearded Dragons on your list of exotic pets that are cruel to own, complete with a large photo of one on your webpage which fights the cruelty of the exotic pet trade.
I am a staunch reptile rights activist, and for years I have combated the cruelty of trying to capture and sell wild-caught creatures such as frogs, lizards, turtles, snakes, and hermit crabs as docile, “easy to care for” pets for children. For many years I have educated unknowing potential pet owners on the horrors that exotic pets endure in the pet store industry, and how wild animals who are accustomed to living in the open wild are not meant to live in inadequate cages in a child’s bedroom. It is a topic that is close to my heart.
However, I find it necessary to point out that Bearded Dragons, for the most part, are not exotic pets. Bearded Dragons have been domesticated for decades, and breed readily and easily in captivity. Dragons that come from a long ancestral lineage of domesticated dragons are available to those who know what they are looking for. There are breeders who are passionate about giving their dragons the very best care they can, and making sure the young grow strong and healthy before they find them suiting homes. These breeders usually do so out of their own home, not in cramped warehouses or other such animal “mills.” Much like finding a reputable, humane breeder of dogs and cats, the same can be done for Bearded Dragons. Sadly, not all Dragons come from such a life, but neither do dogs and cats, when it comes to pet stores.
I have a very beloved Dragon who is about 4 years old now, named Bernie. Bernie went to his first family from a reputable breeder who bred lineages of domestic Dragons for years. The people who purchased and owned Bernie for a year or so took very good care of him and loved him very much, but could no longer take care of him, and put him up for adoption around the neighborhood. That is how he came into my life. Bernie is remarkably tame, calm, and healthy. He sits happily upon my shoulder as I garden or go for walks, taking in all the sunshine he loves. He has rocks and branches to climb, a basking lamp, a UV lamp, but his favorite thing is to sit outside, attended by me. He is a voracious eater and is supplied with all of the nutrients that he would find in the wild, and then some. Bernie has a wonderful life.
Dragons who come from good breeders and who are raised properly make wonderful pets. They eat fresh greens and fruits and bugs, not requiring live mice, which eliminates the cruel need and process to kill mice to feed them. They are accustomed to domestic life, and do not mind being handled. They do not carry Salmonella or other diseases or parasites that can be carried by wild-caught creatures. Being domestic, they do not require intensive attention to the heat and humidity in their environment, and they are less likely to suffer from diseases and deficiencies that wild reptiles often succumb to. Their tame nature and hardiness makes them wonderful pets for children. Most importantly, the ability to care for and interact with a tame, domestic reptile offers the opportunity for a child to love and care for our reptilian and desert creatures, teaching them compassion for what most deem “lesser creatures” than mammals or birds.
I hope that my letter encourages you to take a look at some good Bearded Dragon breeders and owners, and that you see that a domestic dragon makes a wonderful pet, especially compared to wild-caught, feral reptiles. I wholeheartedly agree with your campaign to ban the sale of exotic reptiles, but I hope you decide to remove the label of a wild creature from the domestic Bearded Dragon; and realize that good Dragon breeders and owners are not villains. For a more accurate image of an animal to use on your anti-exotic pet trade webpage, I suggest you use that of the Land Hermit Crab, which is impossible to breed in captivity and quite possibly holds the trophy for "Iconic children's throwaway pet." While not all Bearded dragons are bred in captivity, I don't believe that they deserve the label of an entirely exotic, wild-caught, difficult to own pet. I hope that you too shall learn and agree.
Respectfully,
**********"
Reasonable and educational, no? This was their robotic response-
"Dear Friends of Animals:
Thank you for contacting the ASPCA - America's first humane organization - regarding exotic animals. It is important that our members have a voice in what happens in our organization – your willingness to take the time to send a message is truly appreciated. Due to the large volume of phone calls, mail and e-mails, we apologize for a generic response to your message, but please know that each and every communication is thoroughly read.
The ASPCA's position on exotic or indigenous wild pets is precise and unshakable: No animal taken from the wild should be kept as a pet. No form of wildcat, wolf, coyote or hybrid thereof makes a suitable pet. No primate makes a suitable pet and no wild-caught birds are appropriate. Very few reptiles and amphibians make suitable pets and no venomous forms whatsoever.
No bears or locally trapped mammals are acceptable, the exceptions being those taken in by trained and licensed wildlife rehabilitators and then only for as long as absolutely necessary. No "fad" wild animals such as hedgehogs are suitable.
We know from long experience that inappropriate pets suffer from improper care and frequent abandonment. The placement of exotics after their novelty has worn off is extremely expensive and frequently unsuccessful. The ASPCA is opposed to the traffic in exotic and wild indigenous animals in the pet trade. The ASPCA does not release exotic pets that come under its control to private individuals.
"
Each response is carefully read? Then why did they blatantly disregard the facts that I made very clear in my letter, that not all dragons are wild-caught?
I didn't want to put ASPCA in the same category as pathetically ignorant PETA, and I wish they'd understand the very valid point I tried to make there. Perhaps if more people made this known to them, it'd be different. That's why I came here, to find fellow dragon lovers to make their voice heard to ASPCA.
ASPCA, I deeply respect the work that you do, but good dragon owners and breeders are not villains!
Let them know that. Help me make this issue known. When bred humanely and kept humanely, Dragons are perfectly acceptable domestic pets!
I'm not asking you to attack the ASPCA! I just want such a widespread organization to realize their great error in labeling Dragons as exotic pets. Tell them just like I did. If you own them, tell them how well they are cared for. If you breed them, tell them how strict you are about making sure they are healthy and happy creatures and that they get to good homes. Tell them. If enough people tell them, they might listen.
I want to inform you all of something that I found very disturbing on the ASPCA web page. In their anti-exotic animal trade page, they raise excellent points on the cruelty of capturing wild animals. However, the photo on the page? A Bearded Dragon. This is the webpage: http://www.aspca.org/Fight-Animal-Cruelty/exotic-pet-faq
You can understand that as a doting dragon caretaker, who adopted her bred, NOT WILD CAUGHT dragon, that this accusation that all Beardies should not be kept as pets, greatly upset me. Now, I like the ASPCA and they do wonderful work in rescuing animals. So I wrote this letter to them.
"To the leaders and members of the ASPCA,
I am a lover of all creatures, thus I wholly support the wonderful work you do to rescue animals in need nationwide. However, I find it sad and troubling that you specifically mention Bearded Dragons on your list of exotic pets that are cruel to own, complete with a large photo of one on your webpage which fights the cruelty of the exotic pet trade.
I am a staunch reptile rights activist, and for years I have combated the cruelty of trying to capture and sell wild-caught creatures such as frogs, lizards, turtles, snakes, and hermit crabs as docile, “easy to care for” pets for children. For many years I have educated unknowing potential pet owners on the horrors that exotic pets endure in the pet store industry, and how wild animals who are accustomed to living in the open wild are not meant to live in inadequate cages in a child’s bedroom. It is a topic that is close to my heart.
However, I find it necessary to point out that Bearded Dragons, for the most part, are not exotic pets. Bearded Dragons have been domesticated for decades, and breed readily and easily in captivity. Dragons that come from a long ancestral lineage of domesticated dragons are available to those who know what they are looking for. There are breeders who are passionate about giving their dragons the very best care they can, and making sure the young grow strong and healthy before they find them suiting homes. These breeders usually do so out of their own home, not in cramped warehouses or other such animal “mills.” Much like finding a reputable, humane breeder of dogs and cats, the same can be done for Bearded Dragons. Sadly, not all Dragons come from such a life, but neither do dogs and cats, when it comes to pet stores.
I have a very beloved Dragon who is about 4 years old now, named Bernie. Bernie went to his first family from a reputable breeder who bred lineages of domestic Dragons for years. The people who purchased and owned Bernie for a year or so took very good care of him and loved him very much, but could no longer take care of him, and put him up for adoption around the neighborhood. That is how he came into my life. Bernie is remarkably tame, calm, and healthy. He sits happily upon my shoulder as I garden or go for walks, taking in all the sunshine he loves. He has rocks and branches to climb, a basking lamp, a UV lamp, but his favorite thing is to sit outside, attended by me. He is a voracious eater and is supplied with all of the nutrients that he would find in the wild, and then some. Bernie has a wonderful life.
Dragons who come from good breeders and who are raised properly make wonderful pets. They eat fresh greens and fruits and bugs, not requiring live mice, which eliminates the cruel need and process to kill mice to feed them. They are accustomed to domestic life, and do not mind being handled. They do not carry Salmonella or other diseases or parasites that can be carried by wild-caught creatures. Being domestic, they do not require intensive attention to the heat and humidity in their environment, and they are less likely to suffer from diseases and deficiencies that wild reptiles often succumb to. Their tame nature and hardiness makes them wonderful pets for children. Most importantly, the ability to care for and interact with a tame, domestic reptile offers the opportunity for a child to love and care for our reptilian and desert creatures, teaching them compassion for what most deem “lesser creatures” than mammals or birds.
I hope that my letter encourages you to take a look at some good Bearded Dragon breeders and owners, and that you see that a domestic dragon makes a wonderful pet, especially compared to wild-caught, feral reptiles. I wholeheartedly agree with your campaign to ban the sale of exotic reptiles, but I hope you decide to remove the label of a wild creature from the domestic Bearded Dragon; and realize that good Dragon breeders and owners are not villains. For a more accurate image of an animal to use on your anti-exotic pet trade webpage, I suggest you use that of the Land Hermit Crab, which is impossible to breed in captivity and quite possibly holds the trophy for "Iconic children's throwaway pet." While not all Bearded dragons are bred in captivity, I don't believe that they deserve the label of an entirely exotic, wild-caught, difficult to own pet. I hope that you too shall learn and agree.
Respectfully,
**********"
Reasonable and educational, no? This was their robotic response-
"Dear Friends of Animals:
Thank you for contacting the ASPCA - America's first humane organization - regarding exotic animals. It is important that our members have a voice in what happens in our organization – your willingness to take the time to send a message is truly appreciated. Due to the large volume of phone calls, mail and e-mails, we apologize for a generic response to your message, but please know that each and every communication is thoroughly read.
The ASPCA's position on exotic or indigenous wild pets is precise and unshakable: No animal taken from the wild should be kept as a pet. No form of wildcat, wolf, coyote or hybrid thereof makes a suitable pet. No primate makes a suitable pet and no wild-caught birds are appropriate. Very few reptiles and amphibians make suitable pets and no venomous forms whatsoever.
No bears or locally trapped mammals are acceptable, the exceptions being those taken in by trained and licensed wildlife rehabilitators and then only for as long as absolutely necessary. No "fad" wild animals such as hedgehogs are suitable.
We know from long experience that inappropriate pets suffer from improper care and frequent abandonment. The placement of exotics after their novelty has worn off is extremely expensive and frequently unsuccessful. The ASPCA is opposed to the traffic in exotic and wild indigenous animals in the pet trade. The ASPCA does not release exotic pets that come under its control to private individuals.
"
Each response is carefully read? Then why did they blatantly disregard the facts that I made very clear in my letter, that not all dragons are wild-caught?
I didn't want to put ASPCA in the same category as pathetically ignorant PETA, and I wish they'd understand the very valid point I tried to make there. Perhaps if more people made this known to them, it'd be different. That's why I came here, to find fellow dragon lovers to make their voice heard to ASPCA.
ASPCA, I deeply respect the work that you do, but good dragon owners and breeders are not villains!
Let them know that. Help me make this issue known. When bred humanely and kept humanely, Dragons are perfectly acceptable domestic pets!
I'm not asking you to attack the ASPCA! I just want such a widespread organization to realize their great error in labeling Dragons as exotic pets. Tell them just like I did. If you own them, tell them how well they are cared for. If you breed them, tell them how strict you are about making sure they are healthy and happy creatures and that they get to good homes. Tell them. If enough people tell them, they might listen.
