Gothic Pets & Animals - Part 3

SNAKES:

Snakes are often seen as a reincarnation of evil, of Satan by Christians but in Ancient Greece it was seen as an healer. Judaism sees the snake as a symbol of healing that can save you from imminent death. In fact isn't it now used as a symbol for pharmacies an on ambulances? Also in Wicca and Neo-Paganism, the snake has a positive meaning, of wisdom and knowledge. I know that in art the serpent is a symbol of sensuality.



In the Western world, some snakes (especially docile species such as the ball python and corn snake) are kept as pets. To meet this demand a captive breeding industry has developed. Snakes bred in captivity tend to make better pets and are considered preferable to wild caught specimens. Snakes can be very low maintenance pets, especially compared to more traditional species. They require minimal space, as most common species do not exceed five feet in length. Pet snakes can be fed relatively infrequently, usually once every 5–14 days. Certain snakes have a lifespan of more than 40 years if given proper care.

But here a personal thought of mine..I know some people who have a snake in their home, always kept inside a cage and they got it because it's cool to show to your friends you have such a dangerous wild and uncommon pet at home. To the question "why did you take a snake as a pet?" the most common answer is " Because it's cool and I love snakes". But..If you really love them you would absolutely NOT keep one at home in captivity closed in a small cage, away from his natural habitat and family!! If you really loved snakes you would leave them live their life in their place, not at yours! it might be cool for you to have a snake but have you ever asked the snake if it was cool for him to be locked alone where you put him?

Wild animals are called WILD for a reason..they must live in the wild. A snake is not a dog or a cat who is used to live among and along with humans. It a total other kind of animal so think well about it before getting one.

Anyway, snakes are not aggressive animals unless they feel threatened or are hungry and hunting for food. Most are non venoumous but their bite can be irritating and bring infection to your skin.



HEDGEHOGS:




eheh how cute are they? *-* I have many in my backyard, they come out at night. Many times my husky dog takes them inside my house to play with them xD

(Typical morning scene when I wake up xD ps. No, that's not my dog, I found this image on the internet :P)

As animals native to Europe, hedgehogs hold a rightful place in European folklore. Since the mammal did not possess any "righteous" qualities, it never made it to the court art; however, its relationship with fairy tales has been a long and fruitful one.
In most European countries, hedgehogs are believed to be a hard-working no-nonsense animal. This partially results from the folk belief that hedgehogs collect apples and mushrooms and carry them to their secret storage. It is unclear exactly how old this belief is, though the Roman author Pliny the Elder mentions hedgehogs gathering grapes by this method in his Naturalis Historia. In medieval bestiaries and other illuminated manuscripts dating from at least the 13th century onwards, hedgehogs are shown rolling on and impaling fruit to carry back to their dens. In fact, however, hedgehogs do not gather food to store for later consumption, relying on their deposited fat to survive hibernation. Nor is apple included in their usual diet (it has been suggested, however, that the hedgehogs may use juice of wild apples in order to get rid of parasites, similar to anting). The image remains an irresistible one to modern illustrators. Therefore, hedgehogs are often portrayed carrying apples - partially, to make them look cuter.
Hedgehogs are often pictured as fond of milk, while in reality, they are lactose-intolerant.
They are also often seen in pictures with an autumn-themed background, since the animal hibernates in piles of leaves. This also adds to the cute reputation of hedgehogs. In Great Britain, however, the human habit of lighting bonfires to celebrate Bonfire Night on November 5 has led to an increased risk to hedgehogs, who often choose to sleep in the piles of wood accumulated in gardens and parks beforehand. Television messages now remind viewers who might be lighting bonfires to check them first for the presence of hibernating hedgehogs.
During the 1970s and 1980s, hedgehogs were one of the poster animals for environment activists through Europe. A lot of hedgehogs were killed by traffic, and since the hedgehog already had an aura of a cute little friendly animal, the choice was nearly perfect.


Hedgehogs are a food source in many cultures. Hedgehogs were eaten in Ancient Egypt, and some recipes of the Late Middle Ages call for hedgehog meat. In the Middle East and especially among Bedouins, hedgehog meat is considered medicinal, and thought to cure rheumatism and arthritis. Romani people supposedly still eat it, and also use the blood and the fat for its supposed medicinal value. One method for killing the animal suggests holding it up by one of its hind legs and cutting off the tip of its nose when it unrolls, which kills it and drains the blood at the same time. The animal is then cleaned and boiled or roasted.

O.O ok this last part shocked me a little when I read it...I would never have the guts to kill an animal...!

Well, this is it. I had a lot of fun to search infos about this supposedly goth animals. Especially finding the cultural facts like their meaning in different countries. :) If you have other suggestions of animal that could be added to the list, tell me in the comments and who knows..there might be a part 4 ! :P