Posted by:
exoticball
at Mon Aug 31 16:59:46 2009 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by exoticball ]
The following is a copy of the letter in which I wrote to my village board and safety committee. I am meeting with the S/C this Wednesday, the board the next wed., so what has been written has already been sent, but I wanted to ask you guys if there is anything that I should make a point to mention outside of this:
August 24, 2009
OUR PROPOSAL:
That the village removes ordinance 9.10.5
(5) KEEPING OF SNAKES, REPTILES AND INSECTS NOT PERMITTED IN VILLAGE (Cr. Ord. #4-04). No person shall bring into, keep, maintain, offer for sale, or barter any of the following type of creatures, nor shall any person permit any such activities to occur on premises owned, controlled, rented or maintained by that person relating to the following types of creatures:
(a) Any snakes not indigenous to this State or any other snake exceeding 2 feet in length.
and replace with the following ordinance
(5) KEEPING OF SNAKES, REPTILES AND INSECTS NOT PERMITTED IN VILLAGE. No person shall bring into, keep, maintain, offer for sale, or barter any of the following type of creatures, nor shall any person permit any such activities to occur on premises owned, controlled, rented or maintained by that person relating to the following types of creatures:
(a) No snake whose adult length may exceed 6 ft.
(b) All snakes must be contained in an enclosure
REASONS FOR THIS CHANGE INCLUDE:
1. This ordinance affects business owners. Bonduel Veterinary Clinic would not be able to provide medical assistance if anyone within the village or from the surrounding area has a pet snake that requires medical assistance to their animal.
2. This would also prevent new businesses from moving into our community. The current ordinance would hinder any pet store that may want to consider moving into the area because they would not be able to compete in the reptile market, granted this is a small part of overall sales but it is still a part of their business. Most pet stores carry a minimum of 5%-10% in reptiles and reptile products.
3. Anyone who buys a pet snake from their local pet store will likely exceed this two feet limit with in six months. Most snakes sold in pet stores are already pushing one foot or more.
4. Educational value is being lost from these animals simply because of a few people’s misconceptions. But there are many positive experiences that can result from pet snakes as with the accepted cat or dog pet.
WHY OUR REQUEST:
We have removed “Any snakes not indigenous to this State” simply because it contradicts State law, the State already has laws in place that keep people from owning indigenous animals without a permit. If people could own indigenous animals then they could simply go out and catch their pets in the back yard.
We have added “No snake whose adult length may exceed 6 ft” simply because if you look at the different snakes offered in local pet stores you will find- corn snakes, milk snakes, and ball pythons. These animals grow between 3-6 feet this does not mean that they will reach six feet. We used the term “adult length” to keep an owner from being allowed to bring a snake, as a baby, that has the potential to reach a threatening size and possibly cause problems in the village.
We also added “All snakes must be contained in an enclosure” simply to give the board the piece of mind that we too believe that these animals should not be allowed to run at large within a persons residency, and this does seem to be a great concern for the board.
We also removed the reference Cr. Ord. #4-04 simply because ordinance Cr. Ord. #4-04 has nothing to do with this issue and does not make sense in reference to this ordinance.
WHAT IS A SNAKE THIS SIZE CAPABLE OF?
The biggest concern about this ordinance seems to be that 6 ft is too big, so I think it is important that we take some time to fully explain what a six foot snake is capable of doing. For this study we are going to look at ball pythons simply because ball pythons are one of the thickest snakes as far as muscle content that would be legalized under our request. Please read the article attached Entitled “THE POTENTIAL FOR A BITE,” written by David and Tracy Barker.
Notes:
David and Tracy Barker state “ball pythons are harmless by every definition,” this is not based on an opinion but rather the results of over 65 years of research of snakes as well as being owners of one of the largest and most diverse collections of pythons in the world.
“Most snakes do not bite hard” as stated the jaw and muscle structure of these snake are not designed to crush rather to simply hold their pray. In my personal experience I have never seen a snake of this size leave a bruise. In fact, you may have heard people say that when a snake bites you, you should not pull away but rather wait for the snake to release its bite from you. The reason people say this is because when dealing with snakes, on this size scale, if you pull away you may very likely pull some of the teeth out of the snake’s jaw causing damage to the snake.
“The teeth of ball pythons are slender, pointed and sharp as hypodermic needles” but also remember that the longest tooth in the skull of a four foot specimen was measured at 0.16 inch, just over 1/8 (also keep in mind that this was the full tooth length of the specimen which means it would have part of that 0.16 inch would be surrounded in gums and the muscle tissues that forms the mouth). So their teeth may be sharp but they are small, in fact, snake bites on this scale of an animal may take a minute or so before they start to bleed because the teeth holes are so small and so fine. These snakes also lack the tooth length to cause severe nerve damage. The average snake bite from this scale specimen normally completely heals within three days, far less worse then that of a dog bite or even a cat scratch.
HOW BIG ARE WE REALLY TALKING?
The snakes within the guidelines of our ordinance request will max out in between 4 – 8 pounds and amount to the size of a 2-3 quart mixing bowl when coiled.
WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO STOP BY JUNGLE MUSIC AT 116 S. MAIN STREET IN SHAWANO,WI, TO SEE ADULT SIZED SNAKES THAT WOULD BE LEGAL UNDER THIS ORDINANCE.
Thanks for any input,
Matt
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 Bonduel Wi prep work - exoticball, Mon Aug 31 16:59:46 2009
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