What was your letter to the wilbur petition?

[ingle]

Im sure alot of us have probley heard about wilbur. tragic accident but not the snakes fault. A few people have already shared there letters of concern that theyv sent. This thread is to post all the leters they have sent so that we can keep them all in one place where everyone can read it! heres mine.........................


I'm really sorry to hear about wilbur. I do agree that the snake in question should never of been left unattended, and that the owner should definatly re-think what his doing. I also have cats and dogs and if one of them was killed i'd want justice. I couldnt even begin to imagine what you are thinking.

But i am also a snkae owner and i feel that u are being gravley mis informed. Most snkaes owned by peaple are of a smaller size of the burmese pythons. I Have two Royal pythons that are only 3ft long and wont get any bigger, and the cats could do much more damage to them than they could to the cats. Most snakes that are in the pet trade do not have the capability to do any harm. I feel your basing your whole opinion on 1 tragic accident. The snake wasn't exactly in your garden, it was in its own and it was wilbur who tresspased. also the majority of snake owners are responsible people who know what there doing. my snakes are locked away and i would never even dream about leaving them unattended. I had a friend whos gerbil was eatin by a cat, now i understand that theres a size variation there, but isnt that what happend to wilbur? My friend then didn't go an start a petition to get cats put on the dwa list.

And what about bulldogs? pittbuls? even german shepeards? If all pythons are put on the dwa list (when nearly all of them are about as scared of dogs and cats as you seem to be of snakes) should all dogs? A dog can do alot more damage than a 3 ft snake that is scared of its own shadow. There is thousands upon thousands of cases of dogs harming peaople, other animals and even each other, dogs are constantly being used by thugs and are constantly harming children. We'v all read about the dogs that tore someones baby apart. So why then are you ignoring that bigger issue and foscusing on something that is so insignificant? Apart from wilbur and the tragic accident in florida can you name any other times when a snake out of its own free wil has killed or mained some one? Iv been biten by my snakes before and i garantee id much rather have a snake bite from them than a bone crushing bit from a pittbull.

I applaud you for doing what you feel is right and taking action but i urge you to reconsider you campain. My snakes are my pets and i love them just as much as you love wilbur. If you are succseful you wil be inevitably taking away my pets. I love them, couldnt bare it if i hand to give them up. This isnt some kind of game we play where we see you could get the biggest snake and who's can do the most harm. These are the pets we wish to keep, and its not right that we should have to give up a perfectly safe animal that compared to alot of dogs and even humans can do so little damage. Please stop this for the sake off all our pets.

Yours sincerly
David Ingleson

[ct8282]

Hi there.

Firstly I want to say that I am very sorry for the loss of your cat, and even more so for the way in which he was killed. A truly tragic thing happened and I understand that you and your family must be very upset. As an animal lover I know all too well how terrible it is when you lose a pet. Lets face it they are just as much a part of the family as our parents, siblings, kids etc.

However, I would like to explain that I am a reptile keeper and currently have 11 Pythons, 10 Royal pythons and 1 Green Tree Python. All of these snakes will grow to about 5ft max and are relatively small and very very docile as far as snakes go. They are beautiful, have their own personalities just like cats and dogs, and just like cats and dogs bring me great pleasure and enjoyment from keeping them as pets. I would also like to point out that I have 3 cats and 2 dogs which I love dearly too.

I understand your anger and frustration towards your neighbour, and their very clear irresponsibility in leaving their 13ft Python free roaming and unattended in their garden. I can also imagine that you must feel anger towards the python for what happened, but I think it only fair to realise that the snake acted on natural impulse and is not able to separate the fact that your cat was indeed a loved pet and not simply a prey item. Your website in my mind is a valid cause but I feel your end goal is completely unjustified. I would be wholly supportive of your cause if you were pushing to have the owner punished for his/her irresponsibility but to ask for reptiles to be banned or licensed under the DWA act is completely ridiculous. I think we need to take a step back here and consider the facts. In one year in the UK how many people, kids, babies are mauled and savaged by dogs? How many cats, rabbits, and other pets are killed by dogs? And in one year in the UK how many people or pets are harmed or killed by snakes?

This irrational fear and general dislike of snakes is born and bred from miseducation, misunderstanding, and very frustratingly is fueled by our DISGUSTING media and press coverage which publishes completely ridiculous articles saying things like ‘Snake is a killer’, and showing images of snakes with their mouths open, baring their teeth, that are enough to give anyone nightmares. The truth is that 99.9% of the snakes kept in captivity in the UK are harmless, beautiful, fascinating creatures that are enjoyed by all who can see past the ridiculous hype and give them a chance. I kept my first snake when I was 12 and have been fascinated with them ever since. You may have a stereotype in your mind of what I look like, the job I might do, the state of my residence, but I bet you anything I do not fit that stereotype and nor do most people who keep reptiles. In fact, I hold a well regarded job position at a large company, my house is spotless from top to bottom, and I am a courteous, kind, and respectful person. I don’t drink, I don’t take drugs, I don’t get into fights or act aggressively towards anyone. I am just a normal member of the public, with a normal life.

Pushing for new laws to control the reptile trade in the UK, in my mind is frankly uncalled for and unfair. My snakes are all very gentle and make superb pets. At the end of the day, both dogs and cats have the power to severely harm or injure a human, and it is the responsibility of the owner to ensure they are safe and controlled around other people. What you’re appeal is doing is promoting the IRRATIONAL fear of snakes and puts them at risk of persecution from people who don’t understand them. I love my snakes to bits, and I would be horrified and deeply upset if I was ever judged incorrectly for being a reptile keeper.

I urge you to re-consider your stance and ask that you change your website to reflect this. My snakes are part of my family, and I enjoy my basic human right to be able to freely buy and sell these animals where I see fit. As a responsible PET owner I deserve the freedom to continue to enjoy these beautiful but completely misunderstood creatures.

This is not in anyway meant to challenge you or come across as a nasty email. I simply wanted to give you another perspective on this situation, and hopefully one that you can understand and appreciate for what it is.

Kind regards

Chris Thorne
Business Development Manager

[BluesBoo]

This is my letter

Dear Martin and Family

Having been a cat owner and lover for all of my life, I understand the pain you are feeling. I know how devastating it is to lose a beloved member of your family like this.

Whilst understanding this, I can also see the other sides. Would you be making this petition if it was a Jack Russell terrier in the garden that killed Wilbur and not a snake? Or what about if a child did it? Or what if it was a wild bird of prey?

I currently have four cats in my family and they are all loved very much, but I also have four snakes, who are loved as well. I would not want anything bad to happen to any of my pets, regardless of species. My cats are not allowed to free roam outdoors, as it is not practical in the area I live in and I made a conscious decision a few years ago not to allow my cats to roam anyway, as it was too distressing when, in the past, I have "lost" many cats to lethal dangers outside of my home.

I have also seen the devastation that cats can cause to wildlife. I understand that it is very distressing to hear your beloved cat being killed. I clearly remember a time in the past when one of my cats caught a young rabbit.... there was no swift death, the rabbit was screaming and screaming. I managed to rescue it and take it to a wildlife sanctuary. The rabbit had both back legs broken and the spine was broken too. This rabbit could NOT escape the torture and the cat was enjoying it's game and had no intention of giving the rabbit a swift end to it's pain ! The rabbit had to be euthanised after hours of pain and suffering.

I could not start a hate campaign against cars, even though many cats have lost their lives on the roads, it is not a practical answer to their death. The problem here is that the snake caused the death of Wilbur and snakes are an emotive issue. Many people do not like snakes and/or have a phobia of them and so it is easy to direct hatred towards them.

This is an issue of nature. Cats are predators and kill when given the chance, as do snakes. We cannot change the nature of cats, nor can we change the nature of snakes.

I know you don't see this, in your grief, but it is somewhat irrelevant that the snake was alone, as even if the owner was present, once a large snake has wrapped its victim is would be virtually impossible to "force" the snake to release it.


The problem with being a cat owner is that you have the right to let them roam freely, if you choose to do so, but that involves inherent risks. Any cat could get run over on a road or driveway, attacked by a dog, tortured and maybe killed by humans, eat rat poison and so on. The other side of that is that cats are also killers and will kill mice, birds, rabbits, amphibians and so forth. There is no blame attached to you if your cat causes any injuries or deaths outside your home and on the reverse of that it is a little unfair to start a campaign against snake owners because your cat entered his garden and was killed by one.

If your cat had entered this neighbour's garden and killed a pet rabbit, would you feel it fair if that owner reacted to your cat and all cat owners as you have done to this snake and snake owners? Or would you feel sympathy but say it was just an unfortunate accident and a force of nature? If the snake had come into your garden and killed your cat, then I believe the situation would be slightly different, but still not a reason to start a campaign against all snake owners.

It is hard to be rational and view all sides of this while you are overwhelmed with grief, but time will help. You will always remember Wilbur, he will always be a a part of your life in your memories. Please mourn for your beloved cat, Wilbur, in the right way. The wrong way is to blame ALL snake owners for this tragic accident. Snake owners love their pets too.

I have incredible sympathy for you at this time and I hope that you can grieve for Wilbur and remember all the good times and let this campaign go.

My thoughts are with you, RIP Wilbur.

[wolfson]

good letter ingle, regards mate

[ryanr1987]

lol wilburs everywhere

[ryanr1987]

there's no way any of us would get a reply for our emails he said hes got loads and it's gonig to take him till christmas to read them and that hes thinking of adding a comment page

[SW-morelia]

Ours....
I am really sorry to hear about your cat, but I think you should take a step backwards and look at the big picture....
Your cat is a Asian exotic that was introduced into the UK.... It's not an indigenous animal.
If you had been a responsible pet owner you wouldn't of allowed your pet to roam freely.... If you cannot keep an animal securely you shouldn't own it.... Why wasn't your garden fenced in to stop Wilbur being a nuisance..
Cats are responsible for the decimation of British wild life, you contribute to that, and yet claim the reptile owners are the ones that need regulating.
Cats carry dangerous diseases...
Toxoplasmosis being one...
toxoplasmosis in cats - Google Search
They invade other peoples spaces and cause damage....
And yet you think this is reasonable.....
What if your neighbour had a big dog and it had killed Wilbur when he invaded the dogs space.... What then.
Or what if a neighbour had a Rabbit or Guinea pig that was killed by Wilbur.... What then....
The truth is Wilbur was out hunting, like cats do, and didn't realise that the little brown thing he was going to attack had a 13ft body behind it...
Wilbur was going to kill your neighbours pet, he just never seen a snake before...
What would of been your response if Wilbur had of killed the snake he was hunting...
BTW.... I'm 16 and I breed Australian pythons... These are a lot smaller than Burms....
I also keep cats and Dogs and have never had a problem, like the majority of the UK...
In fact no one has ever been killed by a python in the UK, thats why you had to use info off American sites....
I will be interested in your responce to my email...
Regards
JOEL

[BluesBoo]

Sorry - I already posted my email in this.... but we can comment on his website now!!!!! http://www.reptileforums.co.uk/snake...ke-owners.html

[BluesBoo]

oops - duplicated - now removed

[chris100575]

Here's mine:

Dear Mr Wadey

Firstly let me express my sympathy for your loss, I own two cats myself and would be very upset if anything were to happen to them. That said, my cats are allowed to roam freely as are many others. I accept the fact that by allowing the cats to roam I am running the risk of them being run over, mauled by a dog or a fox, eating poison or meeting with some other untimely end. While I am deeply saddened by Wilbur's death, the fact remains that he would still be with you had you kept him on your own property.

Wilbur's death was an unfortunate and sad incident, but Mr Bishop has a right to allow his pet into his own garden whether it is a snake or a dog. His responsibility lies in making sure the animal stays on his property, not in protecting animals that may trespass upon it. While I do question the wisdom of your neighbour leaving his python unattended, I wonder if you would be running a similar campaign if it had been a labrador that killed your pet instead of a python? Similarly, roaming cats have tortured and killed many beloved pet birds, rabbits and other small mammals without their owners becoming the victim of a hate campaign, or the animals themselves being demonised.

In addition to the cats I have a pet boa constrictor. She is very tame and loves to be handled, often curling up for a snooze when she's held. I love her just as much as the cats and she is far from the monster you are making snakes out to be.

I am very sorry for your loss, but falsely portraying snakes as evil will not bring Wilbur back.

Chris