Every reptile keeper is familiar with it: Total incomprehension on the part of non-herpers as to why we keep the pets we do.

While others are off in Washington doing their work fighting this battle on the legislative front, the rest of us have our own battles to fight. I issued a challenge to the members of the reptile community in December to do education in libraries, schools, and public events like pet fairs, but we also need to do one-on-one education about the beauty and wonder of our chosen species.

Start by sharing with skeptical members of the public how beautiful you find animals like snakes. Their fluid movements, grace, and beauty enthrall me each and every day I am with them. Their bodies are amazing mechanically; their muscle movements enchant me.

We need to help people understand that yes, we have relationships with our snakes. I talk to each one that lives with me, calling then by name even though they never answer back. These are beautiful, low maintenance pets who make me smile each day; what could be wrong with that?

My lizards are much more personable. Osama answers to his name and is clearly my favorite. He greets me with a series of headbobs communicating his mood, much like a dog does with his tail.

I train my dogs, and I've also trained my lizards. Using treats to reward the behavior I want, I have successfully trained Osama to go where I want him to and remain hands free if I wish. He responds to my voice, not in the same way as my dogs, but in his own way. It's clear he recognizes my voice. He also responds to my touch and often reaches out to be held.

No, my reptiles don't follow me around the house like my dogs. They don't share scraps off my plate or cuddle with me on the couch -- but neither does my cat.

You may think you shouldn't have to explain to people that your pets are great animals and that you aren't a "freak" for keeping them. You're right; in a perfect world, that would be true. But in case you haven't noticed, this isn't a perfect world, and the more we get average pet-owners to understand that we love, respect and admire our reptile pets, the easier it will be to get them to oppose laws that would take our pets away or irrationally restrict our right to keep them, or to share this wonderful hobby with another generation of herpers.

So the next time you tell someone you keep snakes and they say, "Euwww," don't argue with them; educate them. Start today.

Photo of me and Osama Binguana, my beloved Grand Cayman Hybrid Iguana.

According to a PIJAC Pet Alert released this morning, one of the proposed bills to prohibit ownership of various species of animals in Virginia has been put on hold while the sponsor, Delegate Chris Peace (R), considers a number of changes. HB 1242, as originally written, would have prohibited the possession, sale, transfer, or breeding of certain listed species, subject to some statutory exceptions. Species subject to the proposed ban included:

• All species and hybrids of the genera Canis (wolves and related species), Cuon (dholes), Lycaon (African wild dogs), and Chrysocyon (maned wolves); excluding Canis lupus familiaris (domestic dogs) and Canis lupus familiaris hybrids
  
• All species and hybrids of the family Felidae (all felids); excluding Felis catus (domestic cats) and Felis catus hybrids
  
• All species and hybrids of bears
  
• All species of hyena and aardwolf
  
• All species of alligators, crocodiles, caimans, and gharials
  
• All species and hybrids of apes, galagos, lemurs, lorises, and monkeys, excluding humans
  
• All species of elephants
  
• All species and hybrids of the family Atractaspididae, such as mole vipers
  
• All species “that may be described as family Pythonidae”
  
• All species and hybrids of the genera Apodora (pythons), Eunectes (anacondas), Liasis (pythons), Morelia (pythons), and Python (pythons); excluding Morelia viridis (green tree pythons), Python anchietae (Angolan pythons), and Python regius (ball or royal pythons)
  
• All species and hybrids of the genera Dispholidus (boomslangs), Rhabdophis (keelbacks), and Thelotornis (twig snakes)
  
• All species of the family Elapidae, “to include all species that may be described as family Hydrophiidae,” such as cobras, mambas, coral snakes, and sea snakes
  
• All species of the family Viperidae, such as rattlesnakes, pit vipers, and puff adders.
  

No further action will occur on HB 1242 this legislative session, but the bill will remain in committee for further consideration during the second year of the session (2013).

"PIJAC will continue working with the sponsor concerning objections to this legislation. Please note that Senate Bill 477, which also bans possession of certain species of animals, remains active at this time. The bill is currently in the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation & Natural Resources. PIJAC is working with interested parties on addressing concerns about this legislation as well. PIJAC will publish an updated PetAlert when there is any change in status on either of these bills. For additional information on these bills, or other legislation impacting the keeping, breeding or selling of pets, please feel free to contact PIJAC’s Michael Maddox at 202-452-1525, ext. 106, or via email at michael@pijac.org with questions or concerns. "

A radio debate over whether citizens of the United States should have the right to own exotic pets is scheduled for tomorrow's The Diane Rehm Show on NPR at 11 AM Eastern Time.

For more information on the show and how and where to tune in, check out the Diane Rehm Show web site.

The right to own pythons, tigers, chimps and other exotic pets depends on where in the US you live. The legal US wildlife industry doesn’t get much national attention unless someone is hurt, an exotic pet gets loose or an ecosystem is damaged. A new report links Burmese pythons released in the Florida Everglades to the severe declines of in the region's mammals. In Ohio police shot and killed dozens of exotic animals including wolves, lions, and bears reportedly set free by their distraught owner. As some fight for more regulation, breeders, brokers and owners of exotic pets say they are being unfairly targeted. Guest host Susan Page and a panel discuss battles over the legal wildlife trade.

Guests
Wayne Pacelle - President and C.E.O. of the Humane Society of the United States
Andrew Wyatt - president of the United States Association of Reptile Keepers
Zuzana Kukol - president and co-founder of Responsible Exotic Animal Ownership (REXANO)
Tim Harrison - director of Outreach for Animals, and advocate group for proper behavior around wildlife

UPDATE: Feb 1, 2013 2:15pm - To listen to an archive of today's Diane Rehm Show you can stream it at http://thedianerehmshow.org/audio-player?nid=15416