another snake bite

[l.rae]

http://www.daytondailynews.com/localnews/content/localnews/daily/0805snake.html

[live4today, RN]

Snakes, bears, lions, wildcats, and so forth are not meant to be people's pets. They are called WILD ANIMALS AND WILD CREATURES for a reason!

[Dixen81]

wow...that's sad...

[P_RN, ADN, RN]

A woman near us just got out of jail for keeping a bengal tiger and about 60 dogs unregistered. At one time she had been a licensed AKC breeder. They dropped her. She skipped town after she got out. Now tell me who on earth NEEDS a bengal tiger. They tracked her through a rental truck she hauled the animals in. This was in July heat!

[gwenith, BSN, RN]

I can understand the fascination for keeping snakes - many people keep pythons especially the childrens python but these are non-venomous snakes.

Lots of farmers have "pet" snakes in barns to keep down mouse and rat populations but keeping venomous snakes - unless you REALLY REALLY know what you are doing - it is just plain suicide. Especially venomous snakes from outside of the country.

We have a ban on exportation of our animals but I will bet there is some Loony Tune somewhere overseas who has a pet Inland Taipan or two just so they can boast they have the most venomous terrestrial snake in the world as a pet.

[colleen10]

That's really sad.

Here in Pittsburgh about a year or two ago a little girl was suffocated to death by her dad's pet Python.

[Kim62]

I'm from the area where this one happened, and the same day this happened, a man was reported for walking a tiger cub down the street with a telephone cord as a leash. The animal shelter now has the tiger and is looking for a place to take it.

This type of thing makes me furious! These animals are not pets. What's even worse are the people that get these type of animals and then turn them loose when they can no longer handle them. It's just insane.

[colleen10]

Just a few days ago, also in Pittsburgh, city police officers wrestled a 4 foot alligator that was in someones backyard. The person wasn't home, so police wrestled it and tied it's legs and snout with duct tape and took it to a local exotic animal rescue league. More than likely it was a pet that had gotten too big.

[Jen2]

Why do people keep these animals as pets? Is it to show off? We had a lady at a local pet shop keep a lion in a tiny cage until the SPCA finally rescued this creature. I understand cute little puppies and kitties, that you can play with and keep you company, but a snake? Lions, and Tigers, and Bears, Oh MY! Leave then be! They are not domesticated, don't want to be, and never will be! I love animals and I am even a vegetarian, but just because I don't eat them doesn't mean I want to go and keep a herd of zoo animals in my back yard. Geeeesh!!!