Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Someone in my neighborhood complained that I had snakes and animal control came knocking on my door. After looking around and in every bin and cage I have (35 of them) they agreed that everything was on the up and up....damn nosey neighbors lol.

The highlight of the night was when I assured them that my animals where real tame and wouldn't you know it that just as soon as I said that one of the officers was bitten by my amel black rat!! Luckily she was a corn snake fan and didn't mind too much.

Has anyone else had this happen to them?

Just a little friendly advise....Don't EVER!! let people(especially neighbors) know that you own snakes!!

All it can EVER do is come back to haunt you!.....your snakes will become a point of discussion amongst everyone they know!
and they'll tell others, and so on, etc....etc...

Out of ALL those folks that will eventually know, how many of them do you think like snakes?, or better yet, wouldn't just plain "freak-out" at the mere thought of a little Ringneck?

Once they know, it is impossible to "erase" the memory of them seeing, or hearing about the snakes........in my forty years of keeping snakes, I myself, and MANY others, have been bitten right square in the ass by this exact same thing!........when it comes to snakes, the motto, "IT'S BETTER SAFE, THAN SORRY" really DOES apply!!

best regards, ~Doug

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"Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!"

I know but with a handful of kids under age 10 it's hard to keep them from talking not matter how many times I tell them not to talk about our snakes. It worked out well because the animal control officers enjoyed the "tour" and said they where impressed with how I kept them. They then asked if would agree to be an on call for seized/forfeited reptiles that needed temp housing. I agreed since this now gives me a good repor and reputation with them and the county.

I agree 100% that you have a definite advantage now with Animal Control on your side!.......you can't beat that!!LOL
You are VERY fortunate.......doesn't look like they'll be bothering you anymore, except maybe to ask an occasional favor, which always keeps them in YOUR corner!

best regards, ~Doug
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"Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!"

I had a vindictive [bleep] neighbor complain about my "poisonous" snakes over 12 years ago. Health inspector (complete idiot) came around to inspect one evening, and the end result was a $300 fine because my cat box "smelled" ( I just got home from work). I sent them a letter telling them to sue me, and never heard from them again.
I've been living in my current apt. over 25 years, and most of the regulars know what I keep. Mgm't is well aware, due to repairmen fixing / repairing inside. I don't hide my critters from nobody, and don't talk about them with anyone, except for one neighbor, who holds an extra set of keys for me.
Eight years ago this [bleep] neighbor was tossed by landlord for causing trouble with another neighbor.
I was there to bid farewell.

Mike

What do they look for? That the species you are keeping are legal to own? The cages? I have two cages with weights on them--is this considered unacceptable by them? (Interestingly enough, I started using weights when on two separate occasions, two of my snakes escaped from cages with the clip locks).

Thanks!

They just wanted to know wether or not there where venomous. There are no reg's against them but they have to be kept in a manner to keep the public safe.

They asked to come in. I did not have to let them. Do not think that just because they knock on your door that you have to let them in. With out a search warrant you can tell them to leave or better yet just do not answer the door.

They where very respectful and up front about why they were there and I returned the sentiment. Had they been rude or bullyish I'd have told them to leave.

I do not believe you can get in trouble for having weights on top of your cages unless it spells out in your localities ordinances exactly how they are to be cages. I am not aware of any state that goes that far.

I had a nosey neighbor call the police because I had too many packages delivered to my house and "grow" lights on. The narcotics officer was so pissed that he wasted his time coming to inspect, that he called animal control. They had to inspect every enclosure and questioned why some were kept together and others seperate. I had to tell them what each and every snake was. It was a hassle, and they called children services because they felt I was endangering my children by having snakes in the house. There are no laws where I was living against keeping anything I had. Needless to say, I moved as soon as I got the chance.