218: John Kinney – Animals at Home Network

Exploring ethical captive management of reptiles & amphibians through the lens of biological science, conservation, and human nature. The Animals at Home Network is a herpetoculture-based podcast network that hosts: Animals at Home Podcast by Dillon Perron, Project Herpetoculture by Phillip Lietz and Roy Arthur Blodgett, Reptiles & Research Podcast by Liam Sinclair and Ellie Hills, and Animals Everywhere by Bryce Broom. Each show on the network brings all members of the reptile community together to discuss reptile husbandry, scientific research, breeding, wildlife conservation, and more!

John Kinney discusses his start in reptile keeping in the late 70’s and 80’s, working up to his large snake collection before moving away from the reptile hobby. He shares details of the issues he had during the time of keeping reptiles and the ethics behind it, as well as his experience in the animal testing pharmaceutical world. John shares what his previous duties were in that facility, the ethics behind it, his opinions on animal rights and PETA, and much more. Later on he highlights why he got back into reptile keeping and how he views the community today. We also discuss the snake species he is keeping currently as well as the enclosures he has them set up in. John also discusses his experience in working for Custom Reptile Habitats, experiencing the enclosure build offs with content creators, and his overall view of social media in the reptile community.

SHOW NOTES: https://www.animalsathomenetwork.com/218-john-kinney/

SPONSORS:

Visit The BioDude here: www.thebiodude.com

Guest’s Social Media

https://www.instagram.com/brewkeepyr/

We Discuss:
0:00 Introducing John Kinney
3:30 Welcome John – Introduction to Reptile Keeping in The 80s
12:57 Prepared for Burmese Pythons?
15:45 Getting Out Of The Reptile Hobby
25:00 John’s Experience in The Pharmaceutical World
25:18 Magic Mind Mental Shot
26:07 John’s Experience in The Pharmaceutical World
44:20 John’s Opinions on Animal Rights
52:10 Temple Grandin and Ethics of Cattle
1:03:24 Coming Back Into Reptile Keeping
1:09:24 Current Snakes He Keeps
1:14:29 Working At Custom Reptile Habitats
1:14:48 The Bio Dude Substrate + Bug Grub
1:15:49 Working At Custom Reptile Habitats
1:19:09 Enclosure Build Off
1:25:08 Domestication of Reptiles
1:33:22 Social Media’s Impact on The Reptile Community
1:44:44 Being More Aware + Closing Thoughts