I emailed the guy back and received this in response.

I think a lot of us appreciate herps and have close ties to the ones we keep while recognizing some are raised for food. When I was young I helped nurse some baby cows at a friends farm but I still like to eat steak and I know people with pot bellied pigs for pets that eat pork.

Sorry if alligator offends you. Years ago we encouraged exotic options at the picnic and had items like alligator, rattle snake, grass hoppers and crickets, only those that wanted to tired it (the problem with crickets is their legs get caught in your teeth).

I hope you will still attend the event.

Guess it's best I stay home in my own little world, sounds like this is okay with the society.