Compulsory Reptile Course

[xycom]

As mentioned above it would turn more people to illegally keep reptiles and with the way education is headed it's getting harder and harder to fail a course. When I was teaching at Vic. Uni. we were told we had to have a 95% pass rate for each subject. The course completion rate was only at about 7% before that. It was too hard for most of the knuckle heads that enrolled in the course (just for something to do). The course has now been undermined and is now worth far less than it previously was to potential emoployers.

As Chris mentioned alot of it comes down to simple neglect.


Per

 

[Reptile_Boy]

i put yes.

it would help all the new commers that are just starting the hobby, but as mentioned more paper work and the wildlife deparments dont want that

 

[Stiletto]

I'm not an Aussie but one of my snakes is. I think it would be a good idea to have a mandatory course or at least a written exam, but is unlikely to happen anywhere. I'm trying to make a difference in my small way, all three of my snakes are adopted from a reptile shelter.. one is a stray, one was an owner surrender and has a lot of catching up to do as he was only fed once a month even when a baby, and the last one, was confiscated during a meth lab take down by local authorities.

At least I had to qualify in order to adopt, but that was just the shelter's policy.. the pet shops here don't give a rat's behind what you know and will sell you anything they have in stock. We don't have reptile licenses here, I take it you need one in order to own reptiles in Australia or is it just to qualify as a breeder? Here in Canada you just have to make sure snakes are allowed by your city's bylaws department.

 

[ethan22]

My son and I done a python course yesterday in sydney as it's going to be our first snake.It was very imformative and gives you the run down on how to look after them.It was worth while doing and we are now more confident on purchasing and looking after them.

 

[Twin_Rivers]

Well done ethan and your son, if more people were as responsible as you and your son then less reptiles would be neglected. Well done. is i could work out how to do the little smiley face things i would give you a thumbs up

 

[Pineapplekitten]

it'd probably be good.. anyone who is responsible would take the time to research reptile care before getting one anyway.

I've never done a course for it but i did alot of research and asked alot of questions before getting any reps and all mine are doing great.

 

[dunmovin]

I think it is a great idea , if there was one in my area I would definately attend, as I'm a 1st timer this year with my snake .

Cheers

 

[zulu]

re Compulsory

Technically its not a bad idea of sorts,but who would administer it? You may have some hope in Queensland with the EPA,victoria whatever the national parks are called there are dodgie and DEC :lol: well they are part of the NSW government and collectively the lot couldnt run a chook raffle.Please dont encourage or distract them from the main duties which is processing licenses and import and export applications thats enough already,all this talk of DEC and the petshop buisiness and tests,mayday....mayday....earth come in.

 

[Nagraj]

Are you all happy to cover the costs for that bloke who lives in Cloncurry and has to drive to Brisbane and stay overnight or longer so he can get a reptile license?

 

[tenacres1100]

My son and I done a python course yesterday in sydney as it's going to be our first snake.It was very imformative and gives you the run down on how to look after them.It was worth while doing and we are now more confident on purchasing and looking after them.

you are also the sort of person that would take time to ask questions and read up as much as you can on there care, many don't
well done to you and your son

 

[lemonz]

yeah i reckon you should cause some people dont know a thing bout reptiles, but they think it'd be cool to get one.

 

[LullabyLizard]

Yes!

 

[antaresia_boy]

even if there were a few short questions on the sheet you have to send off for your licence? ven if people did just find the answers on the net, at least they would know those few things, which might deterr them form spur-of-the-moment things. just my 2cents worth.

Jamie

 

[nvenm8]

yep why not!
And a course to keep dogs, cats, rodents, horses, Chooks, Turkeys (Actually I have all those animals :lol and any other animal that is kept and abused through negligence and stupidity. OOOhhhh hang on! That would mean doing a course for all animals.
Great concept, but as my sarcastic post says there are many animals that are kept and subjected to atrocious conditions and abuse by their owners.
A course would not assist the simple minded fools that do the wrong thing, in fact having to do a course would simply deter the squishy headed twits to from obtaining a licence in the first place.

 

[cement]

I voted a waste of time...... My reason is this.

The percentage of keepers who research and look after their animals well being won't change. Neither will the percentage of people who think its cool to have a reptile but don't have the sense of responsiblity and therefore ignore their pets.

In any group there is always a certain percentage of people who are just retards. And all the courses in the world won't help. Not that there is anything wrong with being a retard....... I like that word, retard... I just learnt it from my teenager kids.
Cheers

 

[ali_snake]

I think this would be a great idea, anyone considering any kind of pet should at least have a background knowledge in what they are going to be caring for.
Some people, not all but some, see something they like and rush out to buy it without knowing how to care for it properly and the animal gets the bad end of the deal without a choice.
We need to set some sort of standards, and requirements.

 

[Den from Den Pythons]

The people that hold such courses will love this thread....Maybe a few other people will jump on the band wagon and offer other basic husbandry courses

 

[gelusmuse]

There is no restriction or licensing for anybody in Australia re breeding children. Some people are clueless and thousands of their offspring have poorer care etc than reptiles (comparatively speaking).
People that are going to do a reasonable job in caring for children or reptiles will do so regardless of what legislation exists. Regulation will make minimal change in the care of reptiles.
The existing licensing is nothing more than fund raising and in NSW the type of regulation suggested will not happen due to cost etc. The only reason Care and Protection of Children legislation exists is because of significant and sustained community outrage and then it is poorly funded and stretched and tearing apart.
Sorry but I think this thread is little more than vacuous pie in the sky given the likelihood of change .

 

[daniel1234]

I voted a waste of time...... My reason is this.

The percentage of keepers who research and look after their animals well being won't change. Neither will the percentage of people who think its cool to have a reptile but don't have the sense of responsiblity and therefore ignore their pets.

In any group there is always a certain percentage of people who are just retards. And all the courses in the world won't help. Not that there is anything wrong with being a retard....... I like that word, retard... I just learnt it from my teenager kids.
Cheers

True. And as this forum shows, opinions vary greatly on what is right and what is not, and what is somewhere in between. There will always be some one who thinks they know better, and to some extent it may well be each of us.

I am trying to stop my 6 and 7 yo from using that word by the way, it's so retarded.

 

[chilli]

until you need to complete a course and have a permit to have kids, why call for more restrictions on a hobby.

further, most people seem to misunderstand npws role - it is to ensure that your animals are legally acquired, they have no jurisdiction over how well or badly you look after your pet.

and who actually thinks completing a course is any guage of competency. thousands do the RSA courses, but we still have hundreds of pubs' patrons committing violent crimes and then blaming it on the jibber juice.

although, if pet shops sold herps, they could give out some form of training/instruction prior to collection of the pet.

and i also have a view that a situation where a government body can require you to pay a private enterprise that is approved by that government body, leaves the door wide open for corrupt practices to develop, eg only certain people can do the training, regardless of their competency.

anyway, that's why i voted waste of time