Tired of snakes and herpers getting bad press? The Tinley Park Patch bucked that trend with its coverage of the recent North American Reptile Breeders Conference:

Animals ranged in price from $25 to $20,000, Ashley said. Asked what they loved about reptiles, attendees gave a range of answers including, "they're beautiful," "they get a bad rap," and "they're a lot more affectionate than people think."

Some even compared them to dogs or cats.

"If you want them to be affectionate, you have to take them out and 'walk them,' if you will," Browning said. "If you handle a snake, or other reptile, a couple of times a day, it's going to be friendly."

He suggested a bearded dragon as a pet for first-time reptile owners.

"They're so relaxed and they're affectionate," he said. "Mine is one of my favorite pets. He will just hang out on my shoulder for hours."

Robin Johnson came all the way from Augusta, Ga., to check out the conference. She didn't bat an eye while holding a vertical tree branch filled with several snakes—a ball python, an Amazon tree boa and a spotted python, to name a few—near the center's entrance.

"Snakes are calming, very loving and very misunderstood," she said. "People really need to give them a chance. They're remarkably beautiful."

To read the full article, click here. The NARBC in Tinley Park broke records for both attendance and fundraising in the auction. Keep your eyes peeled, because kingsnake will be at the Legal Summit in March at Tinley again.