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A- Not at all. Q- Can I squeeze you? A- That could be fun! But really, these animals don't squeeze for fun. Snakes tend not to constrict things unless they are planning to eat it. But many times people mistake their holding on action as aggression. Think about it, you weigh 80 pounds and your wrapped around someone's neck you have to hold on tight to hold up you 80 pounds. Q- These are great photos. Can you tell me about them? A- I cannot say enough good things about this well-known celebrity photographer. A real animal lover and truly a warm and friendly person to work with. I never felt more comfortable on any photo shoot as I did with Isabel and I hope to do more with her in the future She shot some awesome photos for FHM Magazine for an article on Las Vegas Women with unusual occupations. I got bumped for advertising space or whatever reason, but Isabel was kind enough to send me some of my favorite shots. Q- Have you ever been bitten? A- In my early years yes, a couple of times. But not recently. Except for when Steve (My husband, not one of my boyfriends) was feeding a snake in a box and I didn't know it. He sprung up and bit me on my butt. I jumped so high I didn't even know what happened Steve just laughed the jerk. It scared me more than it hurt because I didn't know what hit me.
A- Hmmm, I never heard that before. Q- I understand you worked at Studio 54 for 9 years with you snakes. Did that atmosphere hurt the animals? A- Some of my animals it would but the snakes are fine. Each snake is only on display for 20-30 minutes and then I switch off to a different one. Since I have so many snakes, each only works once a month. Also, snakes cannot hear like you and I do. They feel vibrations similar to the thumping on our chests when we hear a loud bass from a speaker but its not painful. I get many offers to bring Parrots to jobs like this but I refuse. To them it would be painful. Snakes are built different. My assistant has been performing with snakes in atmospheres like Studio 54 for over 20 years and the snakes show no signs of ill health or anger. Q- I understand you have about 30 exotic animals in your care. That's a lot of pets to have don't you think? A- Yes, it is quite a handful. It's just so hard to say no. It's heartbreaking and shocking to see the sad state some of these animals are in. I think people can be unintentionally neglectful to reptiles because they don't whine and cry when they are in pain. If they could only talk. Q- Do you keep every animal you get? A- I'd like too, but of course I cannot keep every single animal so I'll adopt them back out to good homes after they are healthy again. And I'm very picky whom they go to. Q- I take it some must die? A- Yes, reptiles can hide illness very well so by the time they get to a vet or me they are too far-gone to do anything for. Unfortunately many of the neglected animals do not make it. It's very sad, but I love animals and hate to see them suffer so I try my best. Q- I know someone that used to... A- Stop right there...this is what I mean. I bet 90% of people that have purchased a reptile in the last year or two do not own it anymore or it died. I hope I'm wrong but you would not believe how often I hear "I used to, I used to..." Doesn't anyone ever keep their animals? This makes me so angry. A snake can be a 25-year commitment. Do not buy one unless you're prepared to care for it.
Q- Are you concerned that children will go to your site for animal information? A- Yes, Very concerned. Which is why in my guest area I only post photos with content that is no more revealing than that which you would see in magazines at supermarkets. I go so far that my links page does not have a banner that features full nudity, which has cost me the links to possible customers. This is my choice and I am trying to act responsibly with my product. However, I did not design my site for children and my opening page says so. I designed it for people of legal age. That legal age is also the age I believe that children should be to own such exotic pets. Reptiles are not good pets for kids and I strongly recommend that you advise your kids to hold off on their purchase of a reptile until they are older. Your teen may soon be going off to college (hopefully) so who will take care of the snake or iguana? The parents who never wanted one in the first place will get stuck. You may have a 30 year commitment and he will be to busy with studies and most dorms will not allow a pet. How about when they get a new boyfriend or girlfriend. Pets often become the parent's leftover nightmare and get neglected. Youth is full of many exciting and drastic life changing situations, a pet is a voiceless ball and chain that will be forgotten too quickly. Remember that when you are buying a reptile for your kids, you the adult parent are responsible.
Q- You are just using animals to make money. A- First I have to say that the money I actually make with the animals is minimal. The majority of shows with the animals are schools and birthday parties and this market does not warrant a high ticket price, so income from just animal jobs does not come close to supporting them all. Thankfully I have 2 other successful businesses that bring in plenty to take care of these critters and support my lifestyle. Q- Does it hurt the snakes at your shows? A- Great Question. I would like to share with you how I investigated whether or not to use snakes in a show. I will use Fellatio as an example. My pet snake named Fellatio, not the act. This is a common boa that I have used once a week for over a year at Studio 54. He gets throat cultures done, blood samples taken fecal exams and I have even gone so far as to re-create a dance club atmosphere in my warehouse so that I may use a stethoscope to monitor his heart rate and to this day I have no ill health to report. Not in any snakes. No signs of aggression or increased heart rate due to stress and no change in their appetites. It seems that some snakes can be oblivious to this activity. I get the feeling that sometimes I am just a piece of furniture to them. As for petting I only allow this on the lower half of the snake during their time out, which is limited to 30 minutes or so at a time. No one pets the top third. This is not for fear of biting but I assume that if my body were one long muscle I would not mind being touched however, I do observe caution in the snakes body language near the face and head, so I do not allow it.
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Q- I was just looking at one of your photos while I was waiting for you and after about ten minutes I finally notice this huge snake. Are you afraid it's going to squeeze you?
Q- Can I bite your butt?
The Internet is a great information resource but can also be a dangerous place. If you are a parent I encourage you to help protect your kids from having access to adult material and pets they should not have until they are mature enough to handle it responsibly.
I would be financially much better off to dump the snakes completely but I love my animals and will work as much as I have too to support them as I would if they were my children. This is a choice and a commitment.