TIMES & TRANSCRIPT (Moncton, New Brunswick) 06 June 06 Snake owners leave housing complex; Roommates must find temporary home for pets until they move into new home (Aloma Jardine)
Mark Steeves, Tanya Hyslop and Amanda Langille have elected to move out of the Dieppe Co-op Housing complex rather than give up their three pet snakes.
Steeves says when they moved into 232 Doucet Ct. this January it was their understanding they could keep the reptiles as pets as long as they were caged. They bought the three snakes - Aries, Zena and Trident - in April.
The co-op board sent them a letter last week stating the snakes contravened the co-op's pet policy and had to go.
Steeves says it wasn't easy finding a new apartment. He says he and Langille called every apartment for rent in last Friday's Times & Transcript.
"They all said small caged animals were no problem but as soon as we mentioned snakes, that was it," he says. "Some even hung up."
In the end, only three properties would allow the pet snakes, which Cormier says he finds a little upsetting.
He says they finally decided on renting a house.
"It's almost a win-win situation," he says. "We won't have to worry about direct neighbours attached to the same building."
Steeves says they'll be moving out by the end of the month.
Co-op board president Laurise Cormier says their scaly friends will have to go sooner than that.
She says an inspection of the premises was to be carried out last night and if the snakes were still there, the tenants were going to be given another notice warning them to get rid of them.
"The snakes definitely have to be removed," she says. "If they are moving maybe they can find a place for the snakes for the month. Maybe they can bring them to the pet shop for the few days remaining. If we allow them to keep them, we are breaking the contract also."
Cormier says the rules on pets are stated clearly in the co-op's bylaws which have been in place since 1985. Pets must be confined to the members' units and can include caged pets such as birds and small animals like gerbils, fish in a tank, or a single cat as long as it is declawed and neutered.
The bylaw goes on to say that exotic animals, including snakes, and monkeys are not permitted in the co-op.
Cormier says the bylaws have to apply to all.
"If we break it for someone we will have to break it for everyone," she says. "We have to protect 25 families, not just the one. We have to make sure everybody feels safe. These buildings are attached to each other with air ducts and vents."
Cormier says the board only inspects properties annually and says no one likely would have known the snakes were even there until then but for the fact that one of the roommates had the snakes outside in the yard.
Steeves says he can understand the concern that caused. He says a former roommate brought the pets outside.
"If I would have been here, that would not have happened," he says. "It is something you can't really disagree with."
Still, he says their three snakes, two ball pythons and a bubble gum rat snake, pose little danger to others. "The chance of them constricting around a human is slim to none. They have been around humans since they were hatched," he says. "It's like laws around breeds of dogs. If they are brought up right, the chances of them attacking is a lot slimmer."
Steeves says he doesn't hold a grudge against the co-op board.
"They are just trying to do their job. I know they are just trying to look out for everyone. I just wish they had listened to my side a little more and I wish (landlords) would properly educate themselves about these reptiles," he says. "If properly taken care of, they won't be an issue at all."
He says his only problem with the way the board handled the situation was only giving them four days to find a new home for their pets.
As for finding Aries, Zena, and Trident a place to board until they move, Steeves says he'll do his best.
"I don't know if I can do that, but I can try," he says. "The only other way to get rid of them in such a short period of time would be to bring them back to the pet store, but we did get very attached to them and they are not something we wanted to give up."