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NEWS JOURNAL (Wilmington, Delaware) 08 September 07 Man sought in slashing of pet python (Terri Sanginiti)
A warrant has been issued for a Philadelphia man charging him with slashing his pet python with a butcher knife, ultimately leading to the reptile’s death.
The suspect, Kareem A. Langston, 28, is being sought on a misdemeanor charge of cruelty to animals in the July 18 incident at a residence in the 100 block of Cheyenne Court near New Castle.
John E. Caldwell, executive director of the Delaware Society for the Prevention of the Cruelty to Animals, said county police officers investigating a domestic incident between Langston and his girlfriend discovered the injured reptile with three severe gashes on it in an aquarium on the second floor of the couple’s home.
New Castle County police notified the SPCA and animal cruelty investigator John Savelle to investigate.
Caldwell said Savelle found a butcher knife in the cage and brought the wounded snake back to the shelter, where it was examined by a veterinarian specializing in exotic animals.
“It was alive at the time it was brought back to the shelter,” Caldwell said. “An examination established the reptile was sliced with a knife. Due to its injuries, it died.”
Caldwell said it was determined that a butcher knife was used to slice the 2 1/2-foot-long ball python.
One of the slices cut though the snake’s vertebrae, he said.
Caldwell said a warrant was issued for Langston’s arrest Thursday after consulting with the state Attorney General’s Office, which determined there was enough evidence to charge Langston.
Langston initially told investigators that the snake, Poppy, hissed at him, which frightened him, and he picked it up and forcefully shoved it in the aquarium. He said the reptile cut itself on the corner glass.
Caldwell said the snake’s injuries were not consistent with a glass cut.
In addition, two witnesses told investigators that they saw Langston with the snake in one hand and a butcher knife in the other when the incident took place.
If convicted of the misdemeanor offense, Langston could face up to two years in jail and a fine of up to $2,300.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call the Delaware SPCA at 998-2281.
Man sought in slashing of pet python

I don't know if you've heard the story about the Burmese that's been going around lately either, but here it is:

CINCINNATI, Aug. 24 (UPI) -- A 10-year-old boy who said he hated snakes killed a 10-foot python at petting zoo by stomping on the reptile's head.

Scott Braunstein, a reptile handler who brought the snake to the St. Bernadette Festival in Amelia, Ohio, last weekend, said he was shocked by the boy's violence, The Cincinnati Enquirer said Thursday.

The snake, named Popcorn, was a non-poisonous albino Burmese python.

Braunstein, who operates House of Reptiles in Dry Ridge, Ky., said the boy approached him and told him that he hated snakes. The child then raised his leg and stomped down on the snake's head, Braunstein said.

A man believed to be the boy's father grabbed the child and said, "This is why I don't take you anywhere," before disappearing into the crowd, the newspaper said.

"I've never, never had anything like that happen," Braunstein told the newspaper.

Copyright 2007 by United Press International. All Rights Reserved.

...I almost cried after reading that.
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2.1 Normal Ball Pythons
0.0.1 Okeetee Corn Snake
0.1 Bearded Dragon

Wow, the furst news report one is really close to home for me.
I hope he gets what he deserves.
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Cheers!
• Chelsea Lynn Gardiner
(and Frank M. Wood)

Both are disturbing. Some people suck.

This may be extreme punishment, but I'm all for a tall oak tree and a short piece of rope for the lot of them

Quig
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Don't interupt me when I'm talkin' to myself

Nah, bring back the gallows and you might *some* types of crime go down