Reptiles Magazine Community / Community Forums / R.I.P. / I'm sorry / Latest Posts

RE: I'm sorry

DeerHunter908 — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 11:20:59 GMT

Tim, if you forgive yourself, then thats that. That snake at least, if poisonous, may have killed tens of hundreds of THOUSANDS of people (probably not thousands, but still). So take good care of YOUR snake and lead a happy, fun life full of new respect for snakes. Cool beans.

RE: I'm sorry

Starr — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 08:14:01 GMT

i have had a simalar experience with snakes when my son was a baby. i was leavin my mothers house (was by a river) & out from under the door step came about 100 snakes. i freaked! all that went thru my head was my baby or the snakes! i screemed, grabbed the baseball bat from the front door & started hittin everywhere the snakes were. baby in 1 arm & bat in the other. idk if i even managed 2 hit 1 of them but i scared the crap outa them & they all ran, well slithered away. my mother (not a reptile person) bought all kinds of snake traps after that day but couldnt get rid of them so she moved. i have felt bad about that 4 along time but in my head & @ that moment i thought it was them or my baby so ....(didnt even cross my mind the snakes would have 2 climb me 2 get my son lol) . i have since learned that there r no poisnous snakes n e where near my home town so no more snake killin (or scarin) only catchin & release now. my kids r very fond of all reptiles (includin snakes) & i have learned about them in the last couple yrs as well. they r still not my favorite reptiles, however, i dont take bats 2 them n e more either try not 2 feel bad, every1 makes mistakes (human nature) as long as we learn from them, thats the best we can do

RE: I'm sorry

Zoofew — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 05:45:03 GMT

i felt the same way after my teacher told me to catch a frog and give it to him little did i know he was going to disect it

RE: I'm sorry

Python09 — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 21:19:48 GMT

awww, thats sad. but you didnt do it to be mean.

RE: I'm sorry

Auballagh — Mon, 18 May 2009 18:05:59 GMT

Study, learn and grow.
And yes..... Admitting you were wrong for what you have done, is a huge step.
-
Study: Now find out - exactly - what breed, species and type of snake you killed.
Learn: all you can about that now dead animal. Try to understand what it may have been doing that day you took its life.
Grow: Be prepared for what you may one day face in the future. You may prove that fateful day to be of positive benefit to the found - and finder.

Owning a snake is indeed a positive, small step. But, True Atonement will only occur, when you understand what it is exactly, that you have done to atone for.

RE: I'm sorry

Frankenlady — Sun, 17 May 2009 20:16:18 GMT

i am glad that at least you are making up for a past regret. what you did is not something you should feel bad about because if it was poisonous then you saved someone's life. like you said, you didn't know if that snake was poisonous and little kids play around that area. there are many cases i've heard of where little kids get bitten by a poisonous snake in their own backyard

RE: I'm sorry

Wallbey — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 16:12:21 GMT

wow i bet that really made you feel like a terrible person.but dont be sad about it you were only trying to protect your family and others.and also dont you know you can tell a snake is venomous or not by looking at its fangs?

RE: I'm sorry

herpsrule13 — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 10:08:07 GMT

there is nothing to be ashamed of feeling bad about killing a living creature we all respect that

RE: I'm sorry

TimWall816 — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 18:32:56 GMT

Thanks everyone. I kinda feel silly getting all emotional but I feel like it's something I needed to get something off of my chest.

RE: I'm sorry

herpsrule13 — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 18:26:06 GMT

your honesty is an inspiration and i feel for you

P.S. i love california kingsnakes so congrats!

RE: I'm sorry

Ratsnake — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 14:54:11 GMT

Don't beat yourself up over it and forgive yourself. What matters is what happens now and in the future.

I am guilty of some stupid stuff, myself. I won't even mention what we did to frogs when I was a kid.

RE: I'm sorry

Maximum — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 13:45:02 GMT

Thats okay. Everyone makes mistakes and everyone has the ability to learn from them too, like you did. And you even took it a step further and learned even more on the subject. So thats good.

Just remember that every animal has the right to live. Whether it be harmless or venomous, nice or "mean". And every animal should be treated with respect. So next time you do see a harmful animal, contact a no-kill animal control to relocate the animal. But I bet you already know that.

I'm sorry

TimWall816 — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 12:16:50 GMT

One day, my step father and I where clearing away some weeds that had been growing in the vines on our house, as well as trimming, etc, to make the house look nicer. I was sweeping away leaves from the edge of the garden on our driveway, when I noticed something moving. After it emerged, I realized it was a snake.

I've always been fascinated by and interested in snakes, but this one was obviously wild and obviously hostile. I thought of all the possible things I could have done such as calling animal control, putting in another yard, or just leaving it alone. None of these options, however, seemed appropriate. There are young kids in my neighborhood who frequently play outside, and though this snake hardly seemed able to injure someone, it was something I didn't want to risk.

Me, being arrogant about common snake breeds, couldn't identify it. I couldn't tell if it was poisonous or not, or if it was large enough to hurt a small child.

So I killed it. I stampted it repeadely until it didn't move anymore.
I did not take pride or pleasure in the act of killing an innocent one of God's creatures, but instinct took over and I knew what I had to do for the complete saftey of my concious and of my family.

I still have not lived it down...

I know snakes are commonly misunderstood as predators, who only kill or attempt to kill everything around them. I know now that this is not true. I have wanted a snake for a long time, and it just so happened that a trip to Trader's Village led me to a breeder named Thomas (a very smart man that has written for REPTILE magazine once about breeding Honduran Milk Snakes), and after a long conversation with him and his friend (and fellow snake owner) Mark, I learned about breeds of snakes, how to care for them and feed them, and about the 4 poisonous breeds in the United States. So I bought one.

It might have been fate, it might have been chance, but I saw it as an opportunity for atonement. Owning and loving this snake from my heart doesn't make up for what I did, but it sets my conscious at ease. It is a mere feeble attempt at making up for the atrocity that was committed. But I have reached a small understanding about snakes, what they are, where they come from, and why they're misunderstood.

Writing this and knowing that at least one person will read it makes me feel better. My fear was caused by ignorance, and step by step that ignorance will be removed from my life.

Any encouraging words that someone thinks will make me feel one step closer to pure atonement are welcome.

Anyone destructive voices calling me a monster or an ignorant bastard are not.

Thank you for your time.