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Should this snake owner be allowed to keep his pet?

post #1 of 24
1/5/06 at 4:16pm
Thread Starter 
I found this story on our local news:


Warning: picture included in news story might be disturbing to some
http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/t...?storyid=49603

I was wondering if anyone thinks more than a warning should have been given to the owner of the snake?

Also, could you really just stand around and watch a snake eating your cat? Despite what authorites said, I personally don't think I could handle it. I probably would have killed the snake before I even contacted the authorites.

What a terrible situation, not only for the cat but for the owner as well.
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post #2 of 24
1/5/06 at 4:23pm
Since I'm in the office, I haven't followed the link (yet), but my preliminary thought, based on the comments offered, is: Watch something eat my cat? Not on your life. I'll be reaching for whatever weapon I can find to beat the thing off.
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post #3 of 24
1/5/06 at 4:34pm
I don't see how the Wildlife people could say that the enclosure for the snake was ok. An enclosure for a snake like that should be escape-proof (and NOT something that a rabbit can dig its way out of... that's not what I call secure). Why wasn't there a floor to that cage?
EDIT: ok, I guess I read it wrong the first time and the Wildlife people said that the enclosure is now safe (not that the original enclosure was safe). So it's not their fault... only the owners. Nevermind.

If the snake has escaped before and the enclosure is still not secure, the owner of the snake is probably not very careful about it. I understand that accidents happen (some friends of mine had their snake escape after she learned how to open the cage... luckily she didn't eat any of the cats and they then secured the door better) but it shouldn't happen over and over again (not sure how many times it happened in this case)

Also, I know it depends on the individual snake, but it would be better for the snake to be fed pre-killed animals if possible. It's safer for the snake, less cruel for the rabbit. But that's beside the point I guess.

As far as killing the snake, I could not do it. I would certainly be devastated and thraumatized to see a snake eat one of my cats but if the cat is already dead, I could not bring myself to kill the snake. It's not the snake's fault so why should two animals die instead of one?
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post #4 of 24
1/5/06 at 4:34pm
They shouldnt be allowed to keep any pets after this. GRRR!!!!
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post #5 of 24
1/5/06 at 6:28pm
These folks arent likely very responsible since they didnt know the snake could be a danger to small kids...

I beleive unless you are a herpatologist you have no business with a snake over 6 foot period
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post #6 of 24
1/5/06 at 6:40pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by sharky
These folks arent likely very responsible since they didnt know the snake could be a danger to small kids...

I beleive unless you are a herpatologist you have no business with a snake over 6 foot period
Does anyone know how long that snake was?
It would have to be very big to be eating rabbits. The only pet snake I know is about 10 feet long and only eats rats.

Anyways, like any other animal that is potentially dangerous for people (which includes most animals... except maybe goldfish) I don't have a problem with them being owned by RESPONSIBLE people. But like all exotics, a snake is a big responsibility... bigger than most new snake owners realize.
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post #7 of 24
1/5/06 at 6:52pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by marie-p
Does anyone know how long that snake was?
It would have to be very big to be eating rabbits. The only pet snake I know is about 10 feet long and only eats rats.

Anyways, like any other animal that is potentially dangerous for people (which includes most animals... except maybe goldfish) I don't have a problem with them being owned by RESPONSIBLE people. But like all exotics, a snake is a big responsibility... bigger than most new snake owners realize.
I beleive it said 13 ft ///
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post #8 of 24
1/5/06 at 6:59pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by marie-p
As far as killing the snake, I could not do it. I would certainly be devastated and thraumatized to see a snake eat one of my cats but if the cat is already dead, I could not bring myself to kill the snake. It's not the snake's fault so why should two animals die instead of one?
I think it's safe to say that if I came home to the sight of Dori being eaten or constricted by a snake I would probably hit the snake with whatever was in arms reach before even thinking about what I was doing... I think it would just be an instinct to do what I could to save her, just as it would be with a child.
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post #9 of 24
1/5/06 at 7:01pm
That snake would make several nice belts! No way would I watch a snake eat my cat, dead or not. These people are totally responsible for whatever happens while the snake had escaped. I may not be able to eat a small child, but it could cetainly kill one easily. I can't believe she was allowed to keep the snake, since she was obviously careless about keeping it confined. I guess everyone to their own thing, but I think snakes as pets is icky. They creep me out.
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post #10 of 24
1/5/06 at 7:04pm
OMG....I saw the warning but didn't expect to see that!
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post #11 of 24
1/5/06 at 7:32pm



If i saw a snake eat one of my cats (dead or not) i would kill it I can't kill animals (even if i see a spider in the house i put a glass over it and bring it outside )
But if a snake wants to eat my cat i will....

I do not think snakes are good pets.
When i was young my father had a snake for a while. One time i was there when it was feeding time.... i cried And took the rat home and the rat (i called her Lucky) became my beloved pet
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post #12 of 24
1/6/06 at 5:10am
I don't think this owner should be allowed to keep this snake. He obviously isn't careful enough, seeing as the snake had got out before. I agree with the other comments, this type & size of snake is not suited to life as a pet, simply because their requirements are beyond most pet owners. Snakes are VERY good at escaping, they need tight security. Also, they do need a proper diet, a person would have to know what they were doing to keep an animal like that.

Besides which, what's the point of a pet you can't cuddle?
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post #13 of 24
1/6/06 at 5:16am
is it illegal to feed live animals to snakes? (it is here anyway). Shouldnt they have been feeding dead rabbits?
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post #14 of 24
1/6/06 at 7:16am
Quote:
Originally Posted by maverick_kitten
is it illegal to feed live animals to snakes? (it is here anyway). Shouldnt they have been feeding dead rabbits?
In Canada, I don't think it's illegal (probably not in the US either). I know that some snake (especially those caught in the wild) refuse to eat dead animals. Then again, I don't think it's a good idea to keep a wild animal who wasn't bred in captivity as a pet.
I think a lot of people like to feed live animals because they think it's "cool" to watch the snake kill its prey. Those are the people who should not have such pets (and should just stick to watching Animal Planet instead)
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post #15 of 24
1/6/06 at 7:45am
It is illegal in some states to offer live companion animals as food. But many do, especially watching "free to good home" ads in the paper looking for free food(kittens puppies) to their reptile.
Mice and feeder rodents are plenty for these animals. but people are always trying to save a buck and like Marie-p said "a lot of people like to feed live animals because they think it's "cool" to watch the snake kill its prey. Those are the people who should not have such pets (and should just stick to watching Animal Planet instead)"

Me, personally if i witnessed this.,
Diced the snake up into unrecognizable bits without remorse and would have buried the poor cat while sympathizing with the cats owner. The owner should be held responcible for the snakes actions. Even more so with such exotic pets.

Reptiles are not companions IMO. They make decent pets, but they are not your loving trusting companion like a dog, cat, pig etc..

Reptiles cannot be domesticated and are always looking for the next meal. (period) Given the opputunity any reptile will turn on any meal that they think can fit into its mouth. (each other, cats, dogs, even infants)

Im not a reptile hater, but they are just above bugs in my book. This coming from someone who has pythons, turtles, and lizards in the past. and of bugs, I still have a 12 year old tarantula.(which i keep safely away from my cats and dog)
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post #16 of 24
1/6/06 at 8:10am
here in the uk (correct me if i'm wrong but a snake owning friend told me this) the animals have to be dead and you cant have killed them yourself.
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post #17 of 24
1/6/06 at 12:29pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by marie-p
As far as killing the snake, I could not do it. I would certainly be devastated and thraumatized to see a snake eat one of my cats but if the cat is already dead, I could not bring myself to kill the snake. It's not the snake's fault so why should two animals die instead of one?

My thoughts exactly.
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post #18 of 24
1/6/06 at 8:41pm
I think authorities should take the snake away from the owner, since this was not the first time the snake accidently got loose. Find the snake a place where someone responcible can care for it. I think the snake owner should also pay for the loss of the cat.

Also here you are allowed to feed live rabbits,fish,mice, and rats for live food (called "feeders" in pet stores.) Possibly even baby chicks too. I know for a fact from reptile owners frozen food is alot safer for the snake. There have been cases of mice and rats chewing holes through a snake, killing it!
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post #19 of 24
1/7/06 at 3:13pm
My friend's 7 yr old grandson has a pet snake (a itty bitty thing) and they buy frozen mice for it. They just thaw it out and then place in the terrarium.

But this is just awful. If that was a child the snake was eating, would the authorities allow the snake to be killed then? Some cats are like children to their owners. (I know mine are since I don't have any 2 footed kids)
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post #20 of 24
1/8/06 at 7:13pm
Imagine instead it was your cat or dog that got loose, and ate someones pet snake? The owner should be held responsible, but no more so than if it were any other pet.
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post #21 of 24
1/8/06 at 7:21pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Catfur
Imagine instead it was your cat or dog that got loose, and ate someones pet snake? The owner should be held responsible, but no more so than if it were any other pet.
I dont agree with this purely as a snake that large poses more of a danger than someones cat or dog* getting loose

*(Unless the dog was prone to attacking humans/other animals)

also, a snake is bought with the idea in mind of it not being a free roaming pet, and one that needs secure accomodation.
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post #22 of 24
1/9/06 at 11:55am
I am speechless... we are putting pitbulls to death purely because their breed can be dangerous, but when a snake does something like this, the owner gets a warning.

I wouldn't have called the police until I had beaten it away from my cats, but then you also have to think that a snake that big could turn on you.

A good friend of mine back home has a 9ft snake (which eats things like smoked salmon and chicken breasts) but scared they can be pretty frightening (like when you trip over them in the night!) which is why his is kept in a large pen in the basement with the door upstairs closed all the time so when it is allowed to roam it can't get out.
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post #23 of 24
1/9/06 at 12:22pm
You can now add rampaging pythons to the list along with cars that run over you, people that torment you, dogs that chase you, wild animals that give you diseases, and bad weather that you must endure. Keep cats indoors!

Note: I am not excusing the snake owner. I have had pet snakes before and a snake big enough to be eating rabbits rather than rats or mice is a pretty big snake. Such an animal should be SECURELY confined, which obviously was not the case here.
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post #24 of 24
1/9/06 at 3:58pm
So wait. Whyexactly do these people own a Burmese Python in the first place? And even if they were experienced with snakes...how in the world did they not know how dangerous it could be?

I don't think he should be allowed to keep the snake. He obviously has little clue of how toproperly contain this animal. It also sounds like he is keeping the snake outsidein a heavily populated area...which, as common sense would suggest, is not a good choice.
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