Through My Lens
By E.M. Fay
The decision in Florida to allow the killing of 100,000 pythons because a toddler was killed by a "pet" python, was disturbing on many levels. Aside from the human safety issue of keeping a python and child together in a house, there's the underlying question of the cruelty of keeping wild animals as pets.
The policy of allowing "exotic" wild animals into the country for the profit of dealers and vanity of the potential "owners" has caused untold suffering to wildlife. Snakes, parrots, and other kidnapped creatures are forced to live their lives in completely unnatural circum-
stances, such as cages and terrariums, never to know the companionship of their own kind or freedom to be what they are.
Someone wanted to feel powerful by having a huge snake under his control, so an innocent child died. Do we react sensibly by banning the importation of such animals? Or by arresting those who buy and sell them? No, the snakes are blamed and thousands are killed. We need sensible, humane, enforceable laws. Please visit
www.lohv.org and start a chapter or affiliate of The League of Humane Voters in your state