Reptile & Amphibian Forums

WCNC (Charlotte, N Carolina) 25 August 06 Pet snake taken by Animal Control (Ann Sheridan)
Photo at URL below: This photo prompted one community to do something about their forked tongue neighbor.
Mecklenburg County Animal Control has confiscated a 90 pound snake living in a home near Freedom Park. The snake’s owner said he had the snake well controlled and it did not pose a danger to the community.
Neighbors first saw the python on their neighbor’s Myspace.com page. The page shows the owner with the snake wrapped around his neck and lounging near him on the floor.
Animal Control Vet Mary Blinn said pet snakes, in Mecklenburg County, can not weigh more than 49.5 pounds.
Blinn said they can be dangerous to the owners and the public.
“If left alone it could constrict around the neck and they would not be with us anymore,” Blinn said.
Neighbor Colette Ladd told 6NEWS she’d be afraid if the snake got out because she has cats. “I wouldn’t know how to handle the situation,” she said.
Another neighbor, Mary Steele, said “If he can maintain the surrounds and monitor it, I don’t see why he couldn’t have it.”
Animal Control said the snake has been moved to a rescue center in Tennessee.
Pet snake taken by Animal Control

...would pose a threat to my snake if it escaped.

Should the cat be taken away by animal control?

Sheesh.

EXACTLY.

How many times do you hear about snakes escaping and doing damage? Not very often, but when you do hear about it, it's HUGE news.

Now, let's figure out how many times a dog gets out and mames somebody, or somebody's kid- I bet you that we don't hear 1/2 of the number of times that happens!

//Todd

I posted about it in the General Snakes thread. That lady lives across the street from me. Overall the segments weren't too bad...fairly balanced eventhough some factual inaccuracies (shocker). Where they got that Isis is 90 pounds is beyond me. She was weighed by animal control at 67 pounds. Nothing like pulling figures out of thin air for news purposes.

You have to go searching for the article on that same site about the dog in the area that attacked a kid and bit him 13 times around the same time as animal control seized my secure snake from inside my house. Sheesh.

Yeah man- sorry to hear.

Completely ASS-BACKWARDS if you ask me...

If my neighbors thought they had problems with me as a neighbor because I kept snakes, and they pulled something like that, they'd wish I had the snakes back...

//Todd

Dont worry Im working on that

Any suggestions?

Lots of them, but better to take that offline. :-D

//Todd

...but you broke the law. I am not against keeping these creatures, but the fact is THEY ARE ILLEGAL IN YOUR AREA.

YOU posted your snake on myspace and then are angry because your neighbors resorted to their primal fear of snakes. C'mon, man, that was just dumb. I keep nothing illegal in my area, but I don't advertise either. Paranoia is ramapant!

Your asking for "ideas" on revenge after you get busted is only going to hurt our cause nationwide. Maybe I misunderstood the message, but "better take this offline" doesn't leave the best impression.
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Diego

Diego & Tiffany's Zoo:
SNAKES
4.4.0 Corn Snakes (Different morphs)
1.1.0 Everglades Rat Snakes
1.0.0 Boa Constrictor
0.1.0 Dumeril's Boa
1.1.0 Rosy Boas (Mexican & Mid Baja)
1.1.0 Kenyan Sand Boas
0.1.0 Indonesian Dwarf Pacific Boa
0.1.0 Tangerine Honduran Milksnake
1.0.0 Honduran Milksnake
1.2.0 Ball Pythons
1.0.0 Woma Python
1.1.0 Cape York Spotted Pythons
1.1.0 Macklot's Pythons
0.0.1 Ribbon Snake
1.0.0 Western Hognose
0.1.0 Albino San Diego Gopher Snake
0.0.1 Sonoran Gopher Snake
0.1.0 Mexican Black Kingsnake
1.1.0 Gray Banded Kingsnakes (River Road)
0.1.1 California Kingsnakes
1.0.0 Yellowtail Cribo
0.1.0 Blacktail Cribo

LIZARDS
1.0.0 Frilled Dragon
3.1.0 Bearded Dragons (2 Normal, 1 RedXGold, 1 Citrus)
1.1.0 Eastern Collared Lizard
0.1.0 Merauke Blue Tongue Skink
2.3.0 Leopard Geckos
1.0.1 Yellow Niger Uromastyx
FROGS
2.2.0 Southern Bell Frogs
1.0.1 Green Tree Frogs
1.1.0 Striped Walking Frogs
1.1.1 White's Tree Frogs

Diego,
You're probably right about what's best for the cause- that whole thing is just a knee-jerk reaction to an infuriating situation.

The problem I have is that he's had the animal since it was a baby, and because of some stupid law (probably written back in the dark ages) was invoked because of some meddling neighbor who has some irrational fear of snakes.

I mean, what is he supposed to do when the animal reaches a certain weight in the county- stop feeding it??? C'mon now...

//Todd

...I am against such biased and ignorant legislation. I think it's tragic that our rights as responsible herp owners are so easily trampled by the squeamish and superstitious.

I suppose I just believe in keeping a low profile - especially when your community won't let you keep snakes over 49.5 pounds (where'd they come up with that figure, I wonder? Does a snake at 49.6 really pose that much more of a threat?). My neighbors would probably lynch me if they knew what I have in my home. Nothing huge, nothing venomous, nothing illegal - but reptiles nonetheless...
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Diego

Diego & Tiffany's Zoo:
SNAKES
4.4.0 Corn Snakes (Different morphs)
1.1.0 Everglades Rat Snakes
1.0.0 Boa Constrictor
0.1.0 Dumeril's Boa
1.1.0 Rosy Boas (Mexican & Mid Baja)
1.1.0 Kenyan Sand Boas
0.1.0 Indonesian Dwarf Pacific Boa
0.1.0 Tangerine Honduran Milksnake
1.0.0 Honduran Milksnake
1.2.0 Ball Pythons
1.0.0 Woma Python
1.1.0 Cape York Spotted Pythons
1.1.0 Macklot's Pythons
0.0.1 Ribbon Snake
1.0.0 Western Hognose
0.1.0 Albino San Diego Gopher Snake
0.0.1 Sonoran Gopher Snake
0.1.0 Mexican Black Kingsnake
1.1.0 Gray Banded Kingsnakes (River Road)
0.1.1 California Kingsnakes
1.0.0 Yellowtail Cribo
0.1.0 Blacktail Cribo

LIZARDS
1.0.0 Frilled Dragon
3.1.0 Bearded Dragons (2 Normal, 1 RedXGold, 1 Citrus)
1.1.0 Eastern Collared Lizard
0.1.0 Merauke Blue Tongue Skink
2.3.0 Leopard Geckos
1.0.1 Yellow Niger Uromastyx
FROGS
2.2.0 Southern Bell Frogs
1.0.1 Green Tree Frogs
1.1.0 Striped Walking Frogs
1.1.1 White's Tree Frogs

No- point well taken, and I agree with you 100%.

It just sucks that you, or anybody else for that matter, has to lay low with a passion of ours, because of the TOTALLY irrational fears of stupid-ass people...

//Todd

Yes it does. Gotta fight the ignorance, one person at a time.

Gorgeous Carpet, BTW.
-----
Diego

Diego & Tiffany's Zoo:
SNAKES
4.4.0 Corn Snakes (Different morphs)
1.1.0 Everglades Rat Snakes
1.0.0 Boa Constrictor
0.1.0 Dumeril's Boa
1.1.0 Rosy Boas (Mexican & Mid Baja)
1.1.0 Kenyan Sand Boas
0.1.0 Indonesian Dwarf Pacific Boa
0.1.0 Tangerine Honduran Milksnake
1.0.0 Honduran Milksnake
1.2.0 Ball Pythons
1.0.0 Woma Python
1.1.0 Cape York Spotted Pythons
1.1.0 Macklot's Pythons
0.0.1 Ribbon Snake
1.0.0 Western Hognose
0.1.0 Albino San Diego Gopher Snake
0.0.1 Sonoran Gopher Snake
0.1.0 Mexican Black Kingsnake
1.1.0 Gray Banded Kingsnakes (River Road)
0.1.1 California Kingsnakes
1.0.0 Yellowtail Cribo
0.1.0 Blacktail Cribo

LIZARDS
1.0.0 Frilled Dragon
3.1.0 Bearded Dragons (2 Normal, 1 RedXGold, 1 Citrus)
1.1.0 Eastern Collared Lizard
0.1.0 Merauke Blue Tongue Skink
2.3.0 Leopard Geckos
1.0.1 Yellow Niger Uromastyx
FROGS
2.2.0 Southern Bell Frogs
1.0.1 Green Tree Frogs
1.1.0 Striped Walking Frogs
1.1.1 White's Tree Frogs

The law says nothing over 50 pounds. Where they got 49.5 from is just something that the animal control people said to the reporter out of ignorance. In reality, Animal Control was completely ignorant to the laws of this county and the laws of this state and had to be educated on them before they would even assist in transferring my girl to TN.

And for those who keep taking the "you broke the law" stance:

You are correct and I accept that, hence why I cooperated fully with Animal Control in the situation. I was never cited in any way (its civil cite only, anyway) because I cooperated. In reality, Im very surprised it became such a "news" story....and a news story well AFTER it was actually news. Nothing happened to "cause" it (like escape or attack). Isis was out of NC for at least 2 days when the "story" aired. Of course, I will be pissed at my neighbors because I believe everyone should mind their own business. Personally, Im not totally convinced the neighbor story is true, though, but thats for personal reasons that I wont get into here. Im just trying to let this die now so I can move on with life.

Hello everyone, I rarely post here but I thought I would offer my opinion. I think one of the reasons we keepers are met with such antagonism is the ignorance of the public. When we keep our hobby hidden we are in effect contributing to the problem. It is just my opinon but I feel responsible keepers should take the time out to educate neighbors, coworkers, youth, and state representatives about our hobby. Once the public becomes even the slightest bit educated to our hobby they will realize there is really no need concern or restrictive legislation. Most of the common public views us herptoculturist as a handful of extremist but in reality we encompass virtually every demographic of people with our numbers large and growing constantly. If the public realizes we are commonplace and if we could educate them even slightly about our hobby, they will realize they have little to fear and consequently there may be less knee jerk reactions and preposterous legislation. Just my thoughts.

Andrew

...to a certain extent. I participate in reptile education shows locally. I belong to my local herp society, and I bring my animals out to shows for children and curious adults to see and handle. We provide information about venomous and non-venomous reptiles, and how to deal with them.

I can't change everybody's attitude, however, and if there's a little old lady with a heart condition who's afraid of snakes down the street, she doesn't need to know about my herp room.

Let's face it: we love our animals while others hate them. Why antagonize and force people to interact with something they don't want to see? Just as I have the right to keep my animals, they also have a right to not be scared, however ignorant that fear may be.

There are plenty of good places to educate the general public, but I don't think my driveway is one of them.

Devil:

I'm sorry about your loss. I didn't mean to throw it back in your face, and I think it's commendable that you cooperated fully with the authorities. Good luck.
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Diego

Diego & Tiffany's Zoo:
SNAKES
4.4.0 Corn Snakes (Different morphs)
1.1.0 Everglades Rat Snakes
1.0.0 Boa Constrictor
0.1.0 Dumeril's Boa
1.1.0 Rosy Boas (Mexican & Mid Baja)
1.1.0 Kenyan Sand Boas
0.1.0 Indonesian Dwarf Pacific Boa
0.1.0 Tangerine Honduran Milksnake
1.0.0 Honduran Milksnake
1.2.0 Ball Pythons
1.0.0 Woma Python
1.1.0 Cape York Spotted Pythons
1.1.0 Macklot's Pythons
0.0.1 Ribbon Snake
1.0.0 Western Hognose
0.1.0 Albino San Diego Gopher Snake
0.0.1 Sonoran Gopher Snake
0.1.0 Mexican Black Kingsnake
1.1.0 Gray Banded Kingsnakes (River Road)
0.1.1 California Kingsnakes
1.0.0 Yellowtail Cribo
0.1.0 Blacktail Cribo

LIZARDS
1.0.0 Frilled Dragon
3.1.0 Bearded Dragons (2 Normal, 1 RedXGold, 1 Citrus)
1.1.0 Eastern Collared Lizard
0.1.0 Merauke Blue Tongue Skink
2.3.0 Leopard Geckos
1.0.1 Yellow Niger Uromastyx
FROGS
2.2.0 Southern Bell Frogs
1.0.1 Green Tree Frogs
1.1.0 Striped Walking Frogs
1.1.1 White's Tree Frogs

WOW...what a beautiful carpet python....by the way...does it weigh more then 49.5 pounds? I believe it does...I'll be right over to confiscate it!!

I posted this on the Burm forum and will put it on here too. Having come from Charlotte, NC I have to point out that even contacting Animal Control and asking about the law doesn't mean that you will get a correct answer. The city and county merged a little while back and they have NEVER gotten a handle on what the they are actually supposed to enforce. Some say the city ordenences, some say the county ones. This created a unique set of circumstances that him and his snake caught in the middle of. Not to mention the people in the freedom park area are a pain in the first place!
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Bryan, Atlanta GA

1-0-0 Rescued Ball Python - Apep
0-0-1 Rescued Bearded Dragon - Zeus
0-0-1 Rescued Non-Alpha Green Iguana - Bud
1-2-0 Rescued Rats... no wait... ROTTEN Little Cats - Ra, Bastet, Isis
0-0-1 Rescued Fit and Trim Panda Hamster - Mr. Fluffy
1-0-0 Horse... whoops... BIG Golden Retriever - Jake
0-1-0 Wife
2-0-0 Kids

the first carpet python in this post is a .......... irian jaya? beautiful snake was wondering about its temperament?