COUNCILOR KIM ATIENZA’S Ordinance No. 1: No cutesy pets

I think that reptiles – snakes in particular – get bad publicity. I guess it's because of the Bible where they are equated with Satan," says Manila Councilor Kim Atienza. He clarifies that reptiles, be they snakes, lizards, crocodiles or alligators, are among the most gentle of animals.

It is not strange that Kim feels this way about reptiles (which most of us fear) because he owns a lot of them. "I also see a lot of them at work," he jokingly comments. As a councilor of the 5th district of Manila, Kim, of course, is referring to City Hall.

The Manila Zoo is home to Kim's 10 snakes, a couple of tortoises and even a Savannah Monitor Lizard. "The apartment where I live does not allow tenants to keep snakes. But dogs are OK," he says. This explains why we are greeted at the door by Buster, an English bulldog.

"The Savannah lizard also comes to stay with me once in a while," shares Kim.

Has he always liked "exotic" pets?

"I have never gone for cutesy pets. I have always been very unconventional in my choice of animals," Kim says.

In fact, his first pet was a centipede when he was about 9. He saved his allowance to buy a hamster when he was 10. After that, it was one snake after another. "My first snake was an articulated python which bit me three times. It was good that the snake was not poisonous," he says.

He informs us that 90 percent of snakes are not venomous. But if a person plans to own a snake, he must be prepared to get bitten at least once in the snake's lifetime. He adds that the more snakes a person owns, the greater his chances of getting bitten. "Never take care of poisonous snakes unless you're an expert," he advises.

Kim considers reptiles beautiful creatures. "I like the color and the texture of their skin. Most people think that reptiles are slimy; this is not true. Their skin is actually very dry and cold," he says.

Buster To The Rescue

Before you start thinking that reptiles are Kim's only pets, meet Buster, an English bulldog, who has been with Kim for six months now. Buster has a unique preoccupation: He likes to ride motorcycles. Vespa scooters, that is.

Whenever Kim starts his Vespa, Buster goes wild. One day, he let Buster free and he jumped onto the Vespa. Thus began the Buster, Kim and Vespa affair. "On Sundays, I take Buster to Starbucks in Makati. He has good balance. Although he has fallen off a few times, he picks himself up and jumps right back onto the scooter," Kim says.

Buster was just a year old when he came into Kim's life. He describes him as a "good" dog, but not one of those cutesy types. "He sleeps in my room. He snores like two people, and sometimes, I can't sleep with all the noise," he says.

Kim admits that he is a neophyte when it comes to taking care of dogs. He tries to make time for Buster. He takes him for a walk twice a day – in the morning and in the afternoon. He also spends most weekends with Buster.

ANIMAL LAWS

The Manila councilor wishes that it were easier to keep reptiles as pets.

"Our animal laws are ill-conceived and they are wrongly implemented," Kim says. He believes the government is too strict in the breeding of exotic pets.

For instance, in the US, a person can buy a green iguana which has been bred in captivity for just $2. The Savannah monitor lizard, like the one Kim owns, costs only $10. "Buy them here and they cost an arm and a leg. I don't even know if you can get them here," he says.

Kim believes that so long as reptiles are bred in captivity, their sale should not be limited or restricted. "Here, if the animal is exotic, its sale is illegal whether it's bred in captivity or not," he laments. For the record, Kim's reptiles were bred in captivity.

WHERE'S THE CHICK?

When I got my Savannah he was only four inches long. He is now almost three feet long. He is a pure carnivore," Kim explains.

People who care for reptiles have to learn how to handle them because it is totally different from caring for a dog or a cat. Kim says that his Savannah eats live chicks or ground beef.

He explains why he feeds live chicks to his lizard: "The Savannah needs exercise and chasing a chick is one way for him to do so."

You can cringe at the thought but hey, don't people eat beef and chicken, too?

"Unlike people, reptiles are not greedy. They only eat what they need to eat. People eat all the time," Kim says. His snakes eat twice a week only, and the rest of the week is spent digesting their meal.

REWARDING EXPERIENCE

Reptiles are actually quite gentle, says Kim. He is, of course, referring to his domesticated reptiles. "So long as a reptile is used to the human touch, it is already domesticated." He adds that he is able to handle all his reptiles.

"I like to cuddle them. In return I get to touch them. That's enough for me," he says.

Meanwhile, Kim has more "exotic" pets in mind. He says that he is looking forward to owning a few tarantulas, Goliath beetles, giant praying mantises and even walking sticks.

Why these pets?

"I believe these are the pets of the 21st century. Reptiles and even insects require little care. They are odorless and very clean," he says.

Dogs, on the other hand, need more time and energy to care for. Kim says that if caring for a person would be a 10, then caring for a dog would be an 8, and for a reptile? It would only be a 2.

"You have to do so many things when you take care of dogs. With reptiles, all you have to do is follow the rules and you are sure to have a happy reptile," he says.

And his biggest pet peeve?

"I hate it when people buy pets without taking into consideration the responsibilities that come with pet ownership. What I hate the most is when I see dogs in cages or are tied to a leash and left outside," he says.

Kim believes that a responsible pet owner should read up on the kind of pet they want to get before they buy one. This way, they can make pet ownership a more enjoyable experience, not just for themselves but for their future pet companion as well.

"I am a member of the Federation of Animal Keepers. We are a group of exotic pet owners. Only responsible pet owners can become members of this group. It is a requirement that our members' pets are bred in captivity. When we meet, one of the things we do is give each other tips on how to take better care of our pets," Kim says.

He concludes: "Pet ownership is not an easy task. Before you bring home an animal, ask yourself: Can you afford to buy your pet food, toys and treats? Can you bring him to the vet? Is there enough space in your house, townhouse or condo for the animal to sleep in? Are you willing to spend time with your pet? Simply put: Can you take care of your pet?"