mikenno:

I don’t do this very often, but as many of you might know, I’m currently being treated for thyroid cancer. In the past month or so, SELF Magazine had published an article on it, but the article did little but under/mis-inform and, quite frankly, offend people who suffer with thyroid cancer and…

crispyfishsticks:

crispysnakes:

Hey guys, so as you’ve probably heard a few times over the past couple of weeks Thomas Cobb, the guy I got my baby Slice from, is fighting an ongoing battle to keep his boas.  

You can get the initial story here.  He was washing brand new bins in the yard (for the boas) when a neighbor called the cops with a suspicion that ‘he must be growing or breeding something’.  Animal control and the cops showed up, and as he had nothing to hide he invited them in and showed them around.  His basement is built specifically to house his collection.  He has the best caging and materials money can buy, his set-up is top notch, secure, clean, and professional.  The animals are VERY well cared for.  The cops left saying all was well and it was noted how clean everything was.  Shortly after that incident the city turned around to tell him he had to get rid of all but one animal, citing the city’s exotic animal law as a reason when in fact they were caving to the pressure of the nosy neighbor and her sympathizers.     

Thomas is a stand up, honest man and a responsible herper.  He had just moved to Salt Lake recently and was unaware of the need for a permit.  The exotic law in itself does not state a limit to the number of animals that can be owned, and vaguely encompasses all non-native animals (turtles, sugar gliders, guinea pigs, etc. - the things you usually find at pet stores).  As you can imagine this law is not enforced and people still own exotics.  Nevertheless, they cited his lack of a permit as a reason and attempted to get him to remove the entirety of his collection down to one snake while denying him the ability to actually apply for a permit.  

Thomas fought back and thankfully, he was granted a little more time to work things out.  This is the current situation.  He has been been meeting with the city council in order to work things out.

Now just yesterday, the nosy neighbor submitted a petition to have Thomas’s snakes forcibly removed.  Her reasons were that she is ‘worried for her kids’ and she touted that a neighbor that owned snakes would ‘bring the value of the neighborhood down’.  The ignorance displayed by both her and the people supporting her is astounding, and reflects the incredibly poor attitude many uneducated people have about these animals.  In response, Thomas’s supporters have put up a petition to counter hers in order that he can keep his snakes in peace.   

I ask that you guys take a minute to sign the petition above.  We all love our animals and no one would want to be forced to part with any of their beloved pets.  Please help Thomas keep his boas.   

Guys I try to keep my snake reblogs to a minimum here as this is my art account but Thomas is meeting with officials in two hours and the more signatures we can get the better!  

I know I should be blogging art, but this needed a signal boost. I couldn’t imagine how heartbroken I’d be if I was suddenly told to get rid of Suri or Solidus because a neighbor decided they were “afraid for their children”. What a load of BS. I hope the officials see reason and issue him a permit. :(