I was actually at work when it happened and found out when I got home. the problem started when one of the ball pythons popped the clip on her tank and was no-where to be seen, Thinking we were doing the right thing we called humane society to inform them that a ball python could be loose and if found we would come get it. The snake was found a couple days later still in the house. but we did not bother calling back. the officer showed up to issue a ticket for not having it registered exotic animal, and animal at large. My wife tried to get out of the at large ticket by showing that the snake was back in its cage. but thats when they started calling dispatch to find out the size on everything that was in the room. they took the ball pythons because they HAD and list in their office that listed them as exotics, they took the carpets because coastal carpets can get 10 ft, and they took the boas because females can get 10 ft. I have read up on the ordinance and had experts verify that my carpets are the smaller jungle carpets, these have been returned, the ball pythons were returned the day after the seizure but only after paying to register them as exotic animals and pay impound, but after doing even more homework I found out that the list they had never made it into the city ordinance so now they have to refund my money. I am suppose to talk to city council sometime this week about the mixed signals of the boa situation as there are red tailed boas on sale 50% off at petco right here in longview and no-one has done anything about that. a few months ago when a 4 ft green anaconda was seized the owner of that snake was given back his Burmese and red tail. and hopefully find or make another loophole to pull my other 2 snakes through ..... for reference here is the exact ordinance

6.06.400 Exotic animals.

(1) Except as expressly provided for in this section it is a misdemeanor, punishable by up to $1,000 fine and/or 90 days in jail, for any person to possess, breed, import, export, barter, buy, sell or attempt to buy or sell any of the following animals in the city:

(a) All nonhuman primates;

(b) All wild cats of family Felidae and their hybrid, except for the domestic cat Felis catus;

(c) All species of bear;

(d) All wild carnivores of the family Canidae and their hybrid, except for the domestic dog Canis familiaris;

(e) Venomous reptiles and amphibians;

(f) All reticulated pythons, Burmese pythons and snakes which may reach 10 feet or more in length; and

(g) All members of alligator (Alligator), crocodile (Crocodylus) and caiman (Crocodylus).

(2) All persons who possess any of the animals listed in subsection (1) of this section on the effective date of the ordinance codified in this section, or who at any time thereafter shall possess any of such animals, shall, within the earlier of 30 days following the effective date of the ordinance codified in this section or 48 hours from the time of initial possession of such animal, obtain a permit from the animal control authority allowing such party to keep and possess such animal. Such permit shall be granted only if the applicant demonstrates to the animal control authority that adequate safeguards have been instituted and will be maintained which will effectively control the dangerous or vicious propensities of such animal and provide that the keeping or maintaining of such animal shall in no way constitute a nuisance to the occupants of the surrounding area.

(3) The provisions of this section shall not apply to any facility possessing or maintaining exotic animals which is owned, operated or maintained by any city, county, state or federal government, nor shall it apply to zoos, museums, laboratories and/or research facilities maintained by scientific or educational institutions, nor to commercial activities, such as fairs or circuses; provided, that proper safeguards are taken by such parties to protect the public.

(4) Whenever it is necessary to enter upon private property or the public property of another governmental agency to enforce the provisions of this section, an official from the animal control authority or the Longview police department may apply to Longview municipal court for a warrant authorizing entry onto such property if legally required permission has been refused or cannot be readily ascertained. Whenever a violation of this section reasonably appears to constitute an imminent or immediate danger to the health or safety of the public, an official of the animal control authority or the Longview police department shall have the authority to summarily and without notice or warrant enter said property to abate or correct the same. (Ord. 3040 § 1, 2008; Ord. 2693 § 8, 1998).

[ Hide Replies ]

• "We're going to take them," Snake Hate - Ravenspirit, Wed Sep 7 17:34:16 2011
• Big snakes latest dangerous pet craze! - Ravenspirit, Wed Sep 7 17:38:24 2011
• "We're not giving them back" - EricWI, Wed Sep 7 20:14:04 2011
• Pure insanity... - Ravenspirit, Wed Sep 7 20:31:06 2011
• RE: Pure insanity... - gizzy20001, Wed Sep 7 20:51:41 2011
• RE: Pure insanity... - Ravenspirit, Wed Sep 7 21:18:33 2011
• RE: Pure insanity... - EricWI, Thu Sep 8 17:39:19 2011
• RE: Pure insanity... - gizzy20001, Thu Sep 8 19:24:15 2011
• RE: Pure insanity... - TimCole, Thu Sep 8 19:36:50 2011
• RE: Pure insanity... - Chris_McMartin, Fri Sep 9 22:04:12 2011
• RE: Pure insanity... - Calparsoni, Fri Sep 9 12:42:43 2011
• RE: Pure insanity... - Aaron, Wed Sep 14 03:50:31 2011
• RE: Pure insanity... - mpollard, Fri Sep 9 09:23:24 2011
• RE: Pure insanity... - Calparsoni, Fri Sep 9 12:55:57 2011
• Robert Winningham - norajohn, Sun Sep 11 21:36:37 2011
• RE: Robert Winningham - gizzy20001, Sun Sep 11 21:55:42 2011
• RE: Robert Winningham - Calparsoni, Fri Sep 16 03:56:26 2011
• RE: Pure insanity... - natsamjosh, Thu Sep 8 14:48:32 2011
• RE: "We're not giving them back" - emysbreeder, Fri Sep 9 22:54:55 2011
• RE: "We're going to take them," Snake Hate - natsamjosh, Thu Sep 8 14:34:24 2011
• RE: "We're going to take them," Snake - biophile, Tue Sep 13 19:18:00 2011
• RE: "We're going to take them," Snake - biophile, Tue Sep 13 19:23:28 2011
• RE: "We're going to take them," Snake - biophile, Tue Sep 13 20:05:53 2011
• RE: "We're going to take them," Snake - gizzy20001, Wed Sep 14 18:08:50 2011
• RE: "We're going to take them," Snake Hate - Aaron, Wed Sep 14 02:13:30 2011
• Confiscated Snakes Returned - EricWI, Mon Oct 17 19:33:12 2011
• RE: Confiscated Snakes Returned - gizzy20001, Mon Oct 17 21:12:14 2011