DAILY EXPRESS (Paisley, UK) 17 November 04 Snake Me An Offer

A Paisley man is getting rid of his prized pet - because he's worried it might eat his new pup for dinner.

David Walker is having to sell his six-and-a-half foot boa constrictor, which regularly eats whole adult rats, in a bid to protect Japanese Akita pup Skyie.

David, 22, joked: "He's only eight weeks old and is just about bite size for the snake at the moment!

"I'm obviously worried that the boa will just take a notion to have a go at eating the pup up. So unfortunately it has to go."

The snake-owner added: "It's quite sad really and I suppose I'll miss having it around."

The massive, three-year-old reptile - named Legolas after the elf from Lord of the Rings - isn't the only unusual pet David has at his home in Seedhill Road, Paisley.

Along with the new dog, he also keeps a bearded dragon, an unusual breed of lizard.

David added: "The snake has been hand-reared for three years and I've had him for about a year now.

"But he really has to go with having a dog running about the place. I just can't take the risk. I was told that it could just go for the pup which is a fluffy little ball of fun just now.

"The snake eats full adult rats which you can buy frozen - he normally has about one a fortnight.

"It's a great party piece too, it's very unusual to have a boa constrictor to bring out and show people - something a bit different from having a hamster!"

The snake comes with a four-foot tank and is for sale for £200.

Anyone interested can contact David on 07838 281928.

http://icrenfrewshire.icnetwork.co.uk/news/localnews/pdenews/pdenews/tm_objectid=14882654&method=full&siteid=63858&headline=snake-me-an-offer-name_page.html



DAILY RECORD (Glasgow, UK) 18 November 04 Buy My Boa..Before It Scoffs My Puppy - Scared dog barricaded in bedroom (Michael Christie)

Snake lover David Walker is putting his pet boa constrictor up for sale - before it eats his dog.

The 6ft 6in snake lives on a diet of frozen rats. But now it is eyeing up David's Japanese Akita puppy Skyie as a tasty alternative.

Shopworker David, 22, has to barricade his dog in his bedroom at night to stop the hungry reptile going in for the kill.

He can't sleep for fear the massive snake will devour his new pet whole. Yesterday, David, of Paisley, said he would part with the boa, which can grow to 15ft, for £200.

He said: 'Skyie is only eight weeks old and is just about bite-size for my boa constrictor.

'I was told by a vet the snake could easily eat the dog,which is just a fluffy little ball of fun.

'When I take the snake out of its tank, it makes a beeline for the dog and a couple of times I've just got there in time. So I've decided to sell the snake.'

The snake, called Legolas after the elf in Lord Of The Rings, is three years old.

Last night, an SSPCA spokeswoman said: 'We always encourage people to think things through before considering one of these animals as a pet.'

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/tm_objectid=14883997&method=full&siteid=89488&headline=buy-my-boa--before-it-scoffs-my-puppy-name_page.html

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