Posted by:
EricWI
at Fri Apr 15 07:39:25 2011 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by EricWI ]
MILWAUKEE, Wis. -- A 22-year-old man who was bitten by a venomous pet snake Monday night is no longer in critical condition and may be released from the hospital Friday.
Milwaukee Area Domestic Animal Control Division officers found more than two dozen reptiles in Jeremy Loveland's St. Francis home on Monday. To view our video from Monday, click on the video player above.
Officials identified the snake that bit Loveland as a Gaboon viper.
Loveland said the female snake, named Bonny, bit him while he was cleaning its enclosure.
He started bleeding profusely.
"I started bleeding from my gums," he said.
"He knew what to do," said Loveland's grandmother, Barbara Ramin.
"He knew it down pat. He had a folder that would tell the people at the hospital what they would have to do and stuff like that. We stopped the poison from going up his arm," she said.
Loveland knew that Milwaukee County Zoo officials kept anti-venom he needed on hand.
Zoo curator Craig Berg was called around 10:30 p.m. Monday and asked to bring the anti-venom to Froedtert Hospital, where Loveland was being treated.
"(The Gaboon viper) can produce the highest volume of venom, and it has two-inch fangs, so it can get that venom very deep," Berg said.
Loveland said Thursday that he did not feel he put anyone in danger with his snake collection. He said he kept all his snakes secure, but he did occasionally cuddle with a king cobra, even though it was venomous.
"I'd have him around my neck. I'd have him sitting watching TV with me, and various other tasks I would do during the day. He was always very nice," Loveland said.
He said he considered the snakes family members.
"These reptiles have been there for me when most people have not," Loveland said.
Loveland said he hopes scientists continue to research the reptiles.
"The more minds on the subject, the more we can learn about these reptiles," he said.
Neighbors said Loveland often spoke about his snake collection.
"They were like the love of his life. They were his pets," said neighbor Judy Osorio.
Loveland said he plans to ask for his non-venomous snakes back, but he will not ask for the venomous ones back because that would involve going to court.
St. Francis police said they are looking into possible nuisance violations, but Loveland has not been cited at this time.
www.wisn.com/news/27548536/detail.html
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RE: Wisconsin: 36 reptiles removed from home - EricWI, Fri Apr 15 07:39:25 2011