Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi all.. I haven't been around much as I have been pretty busy lately. Maybe a few of you remember my name on here, maybe not.. anyways, my wife and I had a baby 11/30/07. I have had a burmese for roughly 4 years now, I take him outside every now and then in the summer for sun exercise no problems or anything. Well today I come home to discover an anonymous call to DHR saying "i have a large snake in the house with a child roaming free" WHAT BULL[bleep]!! I am so furious right now! I had to vent. The snake is in a CAGE, which is in a room that stays closed and the cage has 3 LOCKS on the door. Has anyone had similar experience? What do I do? I have a pet rabbit(ironic, i know) that I let play outside sometimes, and a dog.. why not call for them too? grr.. people here are so ignorant. Any advice for when the DHR rep comes to inspect monday? Thanks for reading and any info. Chris.

I've not had anything like this happen, but I would think all you'll need to do is show them that, in fact, the snake is in a SECURE enclosure in a room the baby DOES'T have access to. Then find out who reported you and remind them that 'payback is hell'

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

I would just make sure that all of your bases are covered. If you are required to have a permit, get a permit. Make sure the cage is scrupulously clean, sturdy, and secure. Make sure the house is clean (not implying that it wouldn't be). When the interviewer comes, be pleasant and cooperative and not defensive. They are obligated to investigate every complaint.

We had a neighbor call code when we put in our pool because our fence wasn't high enough. Whatever. We just built the fence. I walk my Burm in the backyard so I don't have to deal with neighbors knowing exactly what I have in here.

> > > "Then find out who reported you and remind them that 'payback is hell' "

Ha! Ha! A man after my own heart. But I thought we were supposed to outgrow these thoughts & feelings as we got older? Hahaha!!!

Had a man shoot my horses when their fence was broken by a fallen limb & they wandered into his field. Peppered 'em with a shotgun. I came a hair from snatchin' a knot in his tail but didn't because he was about 70 and dumber than a box of rocks. I never have repaid him, yet. But there's not many days that go by that I don't think about it.

OK, sorry 'bout that. Back on topic.

Later Tater!
Mike
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Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American

But I thought we were supposed to outgrow these thoughts & feelings as we got older?

LOL, we do but some things are just unforgivable
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Don't interupt me when I'm talkin' to myself

laurafl wrote:
When the interviewer comes, be pleasant and cooperative and not defensive. They are obligated to investigate every complaint.

Bingo!!!

Here's your big chance to possibly quell someone's fear and ignorance. Odds are the investigator ain't wild about coming to your place. Don't act bothered about the complaint at all. Be confident but not cocky. Try to teach the investigator what snakes are not to be feared, but respected. It sounds like they should get that impression anyway from the snake being in a seperate room and with cage locks.

If you really wanted to go the extra mile to prove safety & security, run out and grab a cheap door knob with a locking key, like ones used on front doors of houses. Heck, I'll even send you the $15 - $20 to get one if you need it. And I'm dead serious. They make key-locking door knobs for inside doors and they're a tad cheaper than outside ones due to not needing a tougher finish for weather protection and also not needing as much strength for break-ins.

Please let us know how it goes. You never know how this could help someone else out in the future.

Hang in there!
HH
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Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American

> > > "Try to teach the investigator what snakes are not to be feared, but respected."

That's supposed to read: "that" snakes are not to be feared.... (not "what"

Sorry!
HH
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Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American

Thanks all for the replies. I have calmed down a tad bit since yesterday. I think I have a perfect match for the person reporting me and well.. IF it is that person, they know the snake is locked up and is NOT roaming my house freely and it was a very vindictive(jealous) call they made. I actually plan on buying a lock for the room door later tonight and installing it. But my worry is that the inspector may notice other things about that house that could possibly be "unsafe for a child". Like cleaning liquids being in reach or something similar that I am not even thinking of. Maybe the inspector is ONLY concerned with the snake situation. ::Shrugs:: thanks again and I will definitely post more info once the inspection happens.

Some one on here posted a few months ago that, they had a picture of their snake on Myspace and their neibor saw it and reported them. I know one of the breeders I deal with, does not like to tell people he does not know what he has, and if someone comes to his house to fix somthing he covers them. I am starting to go with the same thought that, I do not bring them outside or let people I don't really know, I have them. Its a tough time to be in this hobby, and there are a lot of people who just don't get it. Remember the law is very flexable when it comes to this stuff. If they deam it dangerous, they can take it. Be carful.
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0.2 Rotts
1.0 Super Tiger
1.0 Amel Retic
0.1 Ball Python
0.1 Red Tail
0.1 Blood Python
1.0 Green Ananconda
1.0 Emerald Tree Boa

I'm pretty fortunate in that City Hall knows what I have and doesn't have a problem with it. They DO frown on hots though.
Also, I'm in a town with only about 1200 population. About a third of which goes to Florida for the winter. The immediate nieghbors that don't like reptiles just don't come round

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

It's like this: First impression is everything. When they pull up outside of your place, your yard, and the things within it, is going to give them an impression, idea, of how you live, what type of person you are.

The same thing for when they first set foot in your house, the initial appearance leads the way. It doesn't have to be spic & span, but it needs to look clean and fairly neat. Heck, I might even take a bath that week if I were you. Maybe. Ha! (Just trying to ease your mind with a grin, fella. )

If you've got cleaning chemicals on the bathroom counter beside your child's toothbrush, then yeah, you might oughta put 'em under the sink or in the closet before the investigator comes. But I don't know of any state, county or city that has a "child safety latches on cabinets" law.

Just tidy the place up a bit to make a good first impression and be nice & polite. Don't give 'em any reason to look for anything else.

Hang in there!
HH
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Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American

I guess i've been very fortunate. My mom worked for family and childrens services for many years. She's been to many houses where there were snakes, and there were a lot of issues regarding those snakes. Shes had a few families loose thier kids for weeks at a time over a ball python (or similar small snake) --

We have very secure cages, and we converted our 2 1/2 car garage into a herp house. There is a key-only lock on the door, as well as a regular knob (keeps the boogy man out too!).
both my kids have reptiles in thier rooms my 1 yr old has 2 beardies, my 2 yr old has a baby rosy boa.
there are a few other snakes in the house, 7 foot red tail is the biggest -- all the BIG kids are in the garage.

anyway--
what others have said is 100% true. first impressions are a must!! my mom has always told me that about 80% of the time, she knew how the family was going to behave before she even got out of the car.
Everyone around me has always known what i have, and they've called animal control -- and get laughed at-- sometimes they come by just to see who we have out and wave. hehehe-- love running a rescue!

anyway- first impressions, clean cage, MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T SMELL LIKE REPTILES IN YOUR HOUSE-- LIGHT A CANDLE OR SOMETHING!!! , anyway-- what everyone has said and please do update everyone!!

Thanks and good luck!

Beth
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The rescue site: www.freewebs.com/okreptilerescue

Well.. alright the DHR inspector just left. I heard a knock on the door and I just knew it was him. I was very nervous. He was very nice and had a camera with him. (expected) He told me.. "dont worry, all i am here for is to see that the snake is in a secure and non-dangerous environment" that eased me a bit, but on the way to the snake's room I pointed out the rabbit and two cats wouldn't be in the room with a free roaming burmese. Made it to the snake room, showed him that the door to the room stays closed and locked and then showed him the cage and it had 3 locks on the door. He said "alright, that's really all I needed to see" I asked if he had been on any similar calls or investigations where there was a reptile in the house. He told me "nope, this is the first one, but tell your wife everything is fine and no harm, and I am going to make a note there is no danger in case anyone wants to complain again" wooo relief! Now, my investigation starts.. hehe I must find out who called for sure. Thanks all for the replies/info. it helped me to not worry so much.

See, it ain't no thing

Seriously, I'm glad it all went well.

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

Woohoo!!!

Glad to hear the good news! Thanks for letting us know.

Take care!
HH
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Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American

I'm glad all went well. I think most of the inspectors really want things to work out. Plus, they probably had to find someone who wasn't afraid of big snakes to come out! HA! Y'know, just in case.

I wouldn't waste too much negative energy worrying about revenge. Positive energy makes you feel so much better in the long run!