It's almost impossible to care about this one...

Upon reading this news story, I find it almost impossible to care about any aspect of it.

I have no attraction to any aspect of keeping reptiles as pets. This is a function of my aversion to snakes, but it's more because of my aversion to anyone who would think having one as a pet is a good idea on any level.

They're snakes, for crying out loud. You don't cuddle with snakes. Rather, you leave snakes alone or hit them with a large stick if they refuse to be left alone. Moreover, the word "snake" and the expression "snake in the grass" have become metaphors for anyone who is beneath contempt.

In my opinion, and outside of a researcher, people who would keep snakes as pets are fundamentally off balance, to say the least. I do feel badly for anyone who becomes ill through no direct fault of their own, but it's very hard to work up a tear for someone who feeds their pets live or fresh-frozen animals, whole.

Look, I have a Labrador Retriever, and I feed it the processed remains of slaughtered lambs that are mixed with rice and veggies. I eat lamb myself, and I get that doing these things is difficult for some (read "Vegans") to comprehend and accept.

But I do draw what is for me a definite line.

I don't feed my dog live squirrels, live mice, live gerbils, or live anything.

Nope. I can't care much at all about any aspect of a story that describes someone getting sick from the frozen whole animals they give their reptiles. They need to buy a Lab: the licks, walks, and cuddles they'll receive are a whole lot more enjoyable. Besides, the word "Lab" is not a metaphor, let alone one for anything nasty.