THE PROVINCE (Vancouver, British Columbia) 09 August 06 Boa's owner in housing squeeze: 1.7-metre snake doesn't scare firefighters, but draws hisses from landlords (Matt Carter)
Now the 22-year-old Coquitlam woman can't find a place to live that will accept her pet boa constrictor.
"I'm not exactly sure when the insurance money will run out, but I'm pretty sure it won't last until the end of the month, so we're trying to find a place for [August] 15th," Holt said yesterday.
Holt's troubles began on July 20. She and her boyfriend, Jeff Holder, arrived at their four-storey apartment building at 1200 Pacific St. at about 8:30 p.m. to find the street blocked off and firefighters battling a blaze.
Holt's 1.7-metre snake, Solid, and cats, Tika and Oscar, were inside.
"I was mostly worried the fire would spread down to my apartment. I was sure the cats could get out because I had a window open, but my snake was in there, so I was concerned about that," Holt said.
The couple slept that night in the back of Holt's Dodge pickup. The next day, Holt learned that firefighters had rescued her pets.
"I didn't expect it," Holt said. "It was pretty caring of them to go in and get other people's pets."
Gord Buchanan, chief of Coquitlam Fire and Rescue, said several other pets were rescued, including cats and a hamster.
"We very much value the closeness of pets to many of our citizens. Myself, I have a dog and love him almost as much as my kid. So they're wonderful to have and we understand that and do our best to rescue them in a timely manner."
Investigators haven't yet determined the cause of the fire.
Holt and Holder are currently living in the Port Coquitlam Best Western hotel. The couple recently agreed to rent a two-bedroom apartment on Balboa Court and had paid a damage deposit.
"I let the going-to-be landlords know that I had a snake and they said they didn't want the snake, so I could either get rid of him or come pick up my damage deposit. So I've got to go pick it up," Holt said.
"[My pets] are very important. I would never live somewhere if they told me I had to get rid of the pets."
That includes Solid, who Holt has owned for two years. "He's got a gentle nature," Holt said.
Anyone with an apartment to rent to Holt and her pets can contact her at brusselsprouts@hotmail.com.
Boa's owner in housing squeeze