A challenge to every reptile keeper

Recently a Fox News poll about keeping exotic pets began circulating around Facebook.

"Stop the animal rights extremists, and vote!" was the cry from the reptile community.

While organized opposition from animal rights extremists to the keeping of reptiles as pets is a definite political problem, the most powerful way we can fight back is on a very personal level.

Unless the average person knows someone who keeps reptiles, they have no understanding of why we keep these animals. They don't understand the joy we get out of our pets, and the happiness that having these animals gives to us.

And because they have no understanding of why we keep these animals, they are fertile ground for negative messages about reptile keeping.

If we want to protect our right to share our lives with these amazing animals, we have to take that advantage away from our enemies. We need to reach out to the people who don't understand us and our pets. We need to share our love of our animals in ways they'll understand and relate to.

For me, I enjoy keeping pretty things, like my carpet pythons with their vibrant colors. I enjoy watching the animals blossom and grow under my care. I enjoy the daily interactions I have with my iguana Osama Binguana, who is notorious for seeking out my attention. I enjoy working on target training with my iguanas as well. I can't train them to sit and roll over, but I can train them to go where I want with food rewards.

All these things are concepts every pet owner can relate to, even if they have no interest in pets who aren't furry and cute. That's why I spend at least 30 hours a month doing outreach.

I am at schools and libraries, pet stores and Scout meetings, as well as at general pet events. You know, the kind where dog and cat people go? So do I. And I explain what goes into caring for the ball python. Why certain animals do not make great pets, and what it takes to keep them if you are interested.

I explain the legalities of keeping reptiles, and what people need to do to be responsible keepers. I am not above correcting bad knowledge, and challenging existing keepers to improve their habits, or telling them what they need to know to be a better keeper and a better representative of the reptile community. One bad apple can ruin a bunch -- and change public perception in a heart beat. I'm there to try to keep that from happening.

For those who know me or have met me, I am a brash, tattooed metalhead. None of that is present in my public persona representing the community. My tattoos are covered, my make-up is demure, and my language is family-friendly. My clothes are neat and pressed, and I have a spare shirt or two packed for changes in case I get pooped on. My animals are freshly washed the morning of the event, and only my most trustworthy are displayed.

When dealing with the "I saw on Animal Planet..." tales, I say, "There are always some people who are into things for the wrong reasons. People do bad things in every walk of life, and it is no different in the pet community. Look at Michael Vick." That's something dog and cat owners understand.

It's great but not enough to work paid jobs at zoos, or doing paid educational events with your animals at birthday parties. It isn't enough to present at a herp society or reptile group, or to get together at your local show and talk about reptiles.

We need to reach a broader audience. We need to reach the people who will look at your snake and crinkle their faces with an "euwwww" response, and get past that to the common ground we share. We also need to help them see how responsibly keeping these animals benefits and protects wild populations.

This is why I challenge every single keeper to donate at least four hours of free reptile education to the general public in 2012.

Contact your local library and ask if you can come in on a Saturday with a presentation.

Contact your local pet shop and ask if you can set up a reptile display.

Reach out to local Scout groups.

Don't just huddle with people who share your views at reptile shows; try to make a positive change on the perception of our beloved pets with people who don't share them yet.

I personally average 30 hours a month, doing free education in environments where people may not really expect to see reptiles. I challenge you to only four hours in a whole year.

This will not make the animal rights extremists back off, but it will make their audience more informed and less receptive to their distortions. Rather than falling on the ears of people who have no experience with a reptile keeper, it will fall on those of someone who has heard from us, who has seen the love and care we have for our animals, who may not want to keep reptiles themselves, but at least gets that we're not criminals and freaks, but pet lovers like them.

Will you rise to the challenge, or will you let the enemies of us and of our animals have the first, last, and only word?