Reptiles need support, could we form an organisation?

[vikki3683]

ok - lets get this started then guys
educate at schools is a fab idea - maybe contact zoos etc, let them know what we want to do and see if they can help.

[Pliskens_Chains]

ok i think we all need to start putting our feelers out and see where we would be easily recieved..... people who are up for it who have kids or other young rellies could ask at their schools.
who here can do web design and is up for building or coroborating on a web site?
who here already rescues reptiles and do they have maybe a database on reptile injuries or just some graphic photos of them?

[sandmatt]

Originally Posted by Pliskens_Chains

ok i think we all need to start putting our feelers out and see where we would be easily recieved..... people who are up for it who have kids or other young rellies could ask at their schools.
who here can do web design and is up for building or coroborating on a web site?
who here already rescues reptiles and do they have maybe a database on reptile injuries or just some graphic photos of them?

Yeah well even if its advising people you know who want/own reptiles.. like i have friends who know nothing about snakes but like the ideas of the massive ones (so far managed to persuade em not to buy em)

But i think things like massive snakes, monitors,any DWA need educating on. Not only for care (but like in places where people have had petitions to stop extremely capable people owning them)

But yeah websites a top idea! if anyone knows someone who could do something like that..

[Pliskens_Chains]

Originally Posted by sandmatt

Yeah well even if its advising people you know who want/own reptiles.. like i have friends who know nothing about snakes but like the ideas of the massive ones (so far managed to persuade em not to buy em)

But i think things like massive snakes, monitors,any DWA need educating on. Not only for care (but like in places where people have had petitions to stop extremely capable people owning them)

But yeah websites a top idea! if anyone knows someone who could do something like that..

sounds good... but i think we would need to be completely honest about things.
me personally... well i think its kids that absorb the education side of things the best, most adults are too stuck in their ways and they always believe their way is the best way, and if they want a massive snake than they are going to get a massive snake, not always true, but it does happen.
im thinking that taking some reptiles or inverts to schools and teaching kids something about them and their needs, explaning to them about how they are often bought by people who dont know how to care for them and what happens to these reptiles with improper care.
I'd also like to children to see certain bite wounds from reptiles to show what sort of damage they can do, and which snakes are not the sort of "friend" they should get to start with.
i think with kids, getting them to contribute to their elders education would be fantastic..... maybe getting the kids to draw a poster about reptiles and how they should only be kept if your going to do it properly...
maybe reward the best poster with a small prize? hey we could even judge the poster on here or on the proposed website.
12 schools- 12 months, if someones capable we could make a calendar in the future and sell it for the care of some of the victims of abuse that some of our rescuers take in.
The possibilities are endless and if enough people are up for this, we could go uk wide and make a difference. we definately have enough members up and down the country

[repkid]

Absolutely awesome idea. Is there anything as a 12 year old I can do to contribute?

[sandmatt]

Originally Posted by Pliskens_Chains

sounds good... but i think we would need to be completely honest about things.
me personally... well i think its kids that absorb the education side of things the best, most adults are too stuck in their ways and they always believe their way is the best way, and if they want a massive snake than they are going to get a massive snake, not always true, but it does happen.
im thinking that taking some reptiles or inverts to schools and teaching kids something about them and their needs, explaning to them about how they are often bought by people who dont know how to care for them and what happens to these reptiles with improper care.
I'd also like to children to see certain bite wounds from reptiles to show what sort of damage they can do, and which snakes are not the sort of "friend" they should get to start with.
i think with kids, getting them to contribute to their elders education would be fantastic..... maybe getting the kids to draw a poster about reptiles and how they should only be kept if your going to do it properly...
maybe reward the best poster with a small prize? hey we could even judge the poster on here or on the proposed website.
12 schools- 12 months, if someones capable we could make a calendar in the future and sell it for the care of some of the victims of abuse that some of our rescuers take in.
The possibilities are endless and if enough people are up for this, we could go uk wide and make a difference. we definately have enough members up and down the country

Yeah you've probably got a point there, kids always have an enthusiasm for different things, everyone used to love the animal shows at my old schools(only ever had one reptile), but you've got some good ideas there! and yeah thres members on here alone all over the UK, if everyone did their small bit.

Also there seems to be alot of complaints about pet shops, not quite sure what we could do with no power of the law behind us, but maybe persuade people to buy from reptile friendly breeders/shops?

[Pliskens_Chains]

Originally Posted by repkid

Absolutely awesome idea. Is there anything as a 12 year old I can do to contribute?

i think you and your age group would be the ones to tell us oldies how we would best serve your age group and younger with the education. what sort of things would they want to see?
Even as an example that age is no barrier to being a responsible herp keeper. If we can arrange this, maybe you could help with a presentation at your own school.

[repkid]

Originally Posted by Pliskens_Chains

i think you and your age group would be the ones to tell us oldies how we would best serve your age group and younger with the education. what sort of things would they want to see?
Even as an example that age is no barrier to being a responsible herp keeper. If we can arrange this, maybe you could help with a presentation at your own school.

That would be an awesome idea. Although as far as I know I am the only one of about 1500 students that keeps reptiles.

[Pliskens_Chains]

Originally Posted by sandmatt

Yeah you've probably got a point there, kids always have an enthusiasm for different things, everyone used to love the animal shows at my old schools(only ever had one reptile), but you've got some good ideas there! and yeah thres members on here alone all over the UK, if everyone did their small bit.

Also there seems to be alot of complaints about pet shops, not quite sure what we could do with no power of the law behind us, but maybe persuade people to buy from reptile friendly breeders/shops?

you've got a point, some pet shops are quite a large problem, they buy in cheap and sell for a large profit without giving correct advice and sometimes the reptiles are less than healthy.
At best, we could just offer them the right to print off care sheets from the proposed website, give a hint or 2 here and there, try to be helpful rather than confrontational.
in the future maybe some sort of certificate for the GOOD shops?
i dont know, im open to ideas on it .

[Pliskens_Chains]

Originally Posted by repkid

That would be an awesome idea. Although as far as I know I am the only one of about 1500 students that keeps reptiles.

which is the Best!!!
you having a wealth of information that other students dont know about and more than probably your teachers.
you are actually fantasticly placed to be quite an influence.