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American Morning
Talk With Dealer of Exotic Pets
Aired June 16, 2003 - 08:24 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: No word yet from Wisconsin on whether or not three people who may have monkeypox got the virus from other people. So far, the transmission of the confirmed cases has been linked to pet prairie dogs. Seventeen confirmed cases, about 80 suspected cases so far in the U.S.
From Riverview, Florida, a dealer in exotic pets, Robert Sands, is our guest.
Good to see you, sir.
And good morning to you.
Appreciate your time talking with us.
When this story broke, did you ever have any concern for yourself or your family about monkeypox being contracted through a prairie dog that you own and try to sell?
ROBERT SANDS, DEALER, EXOTIC PETS: Good morning.
No, sir, I didn't. I believe that's an isolated incident that happened up in the Midwest. I know where all of my animals came from. They are collected out of Lubbock, Texas, in that area, and the people I work with, Linda Watson, quarantines her animals for two weeks before they're released. I quarantine the animals here for a time period. They never come in contact with any other exotic animals, only prairie dogs.
HEMMER: Had you, Robert, had you known about monkeypox prior to this?
SANDS: No, sir, I sure didn't. I didn't have any idea about monkeypox.
HEMMER: This is a big part of your business. What do you think now?
SANDS: Well, I hope they reopen the prairie dog business because it was an isolated incident in the North -- or in the Middle West.
HEMMER: I've go to tell you, this is one interesting work you've got here, one interesting occupation. How in the world did you get involved with prairie dogs, raising them and trying to resell them?
SANDS: Well, in the beginning it was about money. But then after the money part came in and I got to be handling the prairie dogs, I found that I love the prairie dogs. My biggest concern and one of the biggest concerns is the prairie dogs, after they have a closure with the prairie dogs, if they close down the prairie dog industry, we have agreements with the ranchers out in Texas that as long as they don't shoot them and poison them, we'll collect the pups and control the populations.
In fact, they were trying to close down and protect the prairie dogs at one time and some of the older ranchers out there said we're not going to have the government telling us how to handle our either prairie dogs or handle our land. They destroyed 10 sections of prairie dogs.
So actually defeating what the animal rights activists was trying to do. By protecting the prairie dogs before it came in, they destroyed the prairie dogs.
HEMMER: Let me ask you...
SANDS: So...
HEMMER: Who owns a prairie dog as a pet and what kind of pets do they make?
SANDS: Oh, they make excellent pets. They're highly social. When you're out on the prairie dog towns, you actually see them coming up and greeting each other, rolling around and playing. Once you take that interaction away from the other prairie dogs in the town, they interact like that with you, as well.
HEMMER: Interesting. I understand you raise albino bullfrogs and flying squirrels. You've got your fingers in a lot of pies down there, Robert.
SANDS: I'm just starting with albino bullfrogs. I've got to do something if they close down the prairie dog industry. I'm also considering changing fields after this.
HEMMER: Wow.
SANDS: This is my second bout with being closed down.
HEMMER: Oh, is that right?
SANDS: Five years ago, they...
HEMMER: We've only got a little bit of time here.
Can you show us some of these prairie dogs quickly, Robert?
SANDS: Yes, sir.
This one's about two years old. You can see that they're just cuddly, cute little animals. Can you?
HEMMER: We sure can.
SANDS: Is it all right?
HEMMER: Thanks for sharing your story, Robert.
Robert Sands there in Riverview, Florida.
You're a unique man.
Good luck to you.
And I know you've been hit pretty hard by this and the best of luck to you recovering.
Robert, thanks.
SANDS: All right.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired June 16, 2003 - 08:24 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: No word yet from Wisconsin on whether or not three people who may have monkeypox got the virus from other people. So far, the transmission of the confirmed cases has been linked to pet prairie dogs. Seventeen confirmed cases, about 80 suspected cases so far in the U.S.
From Riverview, Florida, a dealer in exotic pets, Robert Sands, is our guest.
Good to see you, sir.
And good morning to you.
Appreciate your time talking with us.
When this story broke, did you ever have any concern for yourself or your family about monkeypox being contracted through a prairie dog that you own and try to sell?
ROBERT SANDS, DEALER, EXOTIC PETS: Good morning.
No, sir, I didn't. I believe that's an isolated incident that happened up in the Midwest. I know where all of my animals came from. They are collected out of Lubbock, Texas, in that area, and the people I work with, Linda Watson, quarantines her animals for two weeks before they're released. I quarantine the animals here for a time period. They never come in contact with any other exotic animals, only prairie dogs.
HEMMER: Had you, Robert, had you known about monkeypox prior to this?
SANDS: No, sir, I sure didn't. I didn't have any idea about monkeypox.
HEMMER: This is a big part of your business. What do you think now?
SANDS: Well, I hope they reopen the prairie dog business because it was an isolated incident in the North -- or in the Middle West.
HEMMER: I've go to tell you, this is one interesting work you've got here, one interesting occupation. How in the world did you get involved with prairie dogs, raising them and trying to resell them?
SANDS: Well, in the beginning it was about money. But then after the money part came in and I got to be handling the prairie dogs, I found that I love the prairie dogs. My biggest concern and one of the biggest concerns is the prairie dogs, after they have a closure with the prairie dogs, if they close down the prairie dog industry, we have agreements with the ranchers out in Texas that as long as they don't shoot them and poison them, we'll collect the pups and control the populations.
In fact, they were trying to close down and protect the prairie dogs at one time and some of the older ranchers out there said we're not going to have the government telling us how to handle our either prairie dogs or handle our land. They destroyed 10 sections of prairie dogs.
So actually defeating what the animal rights activists was trying to do. By protecting the prairie dogs before it came in, they destroyed the prairie dogs.
HEMMER: Let me ask you...
SANDS: So...
HEMMER: Who owns a prairie dog as a pet and what kind of pets do they make?
SANDS: Oh, they make excellent pets. They're highly social. When you're out on the prairie dog towns, you actually see them coming up and greeting each other, rolling around and playing. Once you take that interaction away from the other prairie dogs in the town, they interact like that with you, as well.
HEMMER: Interesting. I understand you raise albino bullfrogs and flying squirrels. You've got your fingers in a lot of pies down there, Robert.
SANDS: I'm just starting with albino bullfrogs. I've got to do something if they close down the prairie dog industry. I'm also considering changing fields after this.
HEMMER: Wow.
SANDS: This is my second bout with being closed down.
HEMMER: Oh, is that right?
SANDS: Five years ago, they...
HEMMER: We've only got a little bit of time here.
Can you show us some of these prairie dogs quickly, Robert?
SANDS: Yes, sir.
This one's about two years old. You can see that they're just cuddly, cute little animals. Can you?
HEMMER: We sure can.
SANDS: Is it all right?
HEMMER: Thanks for sharing your story, Robert.
Robert Sands there in Riverview, Florida.
You're a unique man.
Good luck to you.
And I know you've been hit pretty hard by this and the best of luck to you recovering.
Robert, thanks.
SANDS: All right.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
