http://www.theolympian.com/southsou.....ry/980930.html

In response to the article linked above:


To start off, I have an adult female ball python named Squishy. Similar to how this snake is for this man, this snake will react if my Tourette Syndrome is acting up, wrapping around, squeezing (not constricting tightly, just a firm squeeze.) She'll writhe slowly, kneading her own body into the muscles in my neck. Taking her out is one of the best ways that I can get myself starting to calm down when I'm having a tourette's episode, jerking my limbs around, vocalizing loudly sometimes.

I guess she'd be more classified as a therapy animal, although, much like he did with his boa, I've trained her to react appropriately to others in public.
She's thoroughly acclimated to being around lots of vibration, strange smells, unfamiliar people who sometimes try to reach out and touch of poke her, often without asking me first.

I respect the fact that many are kind of pre-disposed to be afraid of snakes. It's somehow hardwired into some peoples' personalities. I will not approach someone, try to make them touch or be near my snake. If someone expresses or shows that they are uncomfortable, I politely give them some space.

what bugs me is when people like to come up to me and tell me how disgusting it is, or how I'm stupid and that I know nothing about my snake, that it's dangerous. Some idiots have even tried to tell me how my python is "poisonous." First off, snakes aren't poisonous, they're VENOEMOUS. Second, it's a CONSTRICTOR, it's not even in the same classification as a venomous snake!