Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Dear Python-keeping People: It may be that your paperboy is getting old, but except for reading into the title what the journalist chose to create, I'm not seeing any indication that there is a 'python problem' developing in this town. In fact, quite the opposite seems to be true given the city Health authority's assessment of the animals' docility and difficulty for the general public to actually be bitten/contaminated by a domesticated python. Is it just me, or are the title and article not in sync?
respects,
Wes

DAILY ITEM (Lynn, Massachusetts) 21 July 08 Saugus wrestles with potential python problem (Chris Stevens)
Saugus: When Frank Giacalone took over as Health Agent, he had no idea that pythons were in his job description.
Giacalone became the go-to guy last week when complaints began flowing in to a local Town Meeting member, the K-9 Control Officer and later the Police Department regarding a man walking around town with a six foot Burmese python wrapped around him.
The trouble stemmed mainly from the fact he was letting children pet the giant reptile. The problem for concerned parents is the town has no bylaw that covers pythons and no recourse to stop the man from taking his big yellow friend for a stroll. And Giacalone admits he's not sure if the town should interfere.
In researching the issue, Giacalone said he discovered Massachusetts Wildlife doesn't even list the Burmese python as an exotic animal because it's considered docile and isn't venomous. Other kinds of pythons, and even some boa constrictors are listed, but the Burmese is considered relatively safe.
Town Meeting member Ray Lawrence said that hasn't stopped residents from worrying.
Lawrence fielded the first calls from parents concerned that their children could contract salmonella from the snake or, worse, be bitten by it. Giacalone said contracting salmonella poisoning from a python is rare unless you handle its feces and, generally speaking, pythons don't bite.
He did say the snake should be treated like any animal on a leash - warily and respectfully
"I believe any animal can be antagonized to bite," Giacalone said.
But, he added, while it might seem unusual, taking a python out for a walk or for a little sun is really no different than walking a dog. And currently there is nothing legally that anyone can do about it.
"We don't have a regulation for exotic animals," he said. "We do have one for animal keepers. We permit horses, pigs, swine, chickens and pigeons and we have an animal inspector who goes out."
Giacalone said those regulations likely date back to when Saugus had considerably more farmland than it does today.
Whether the town moves to establish a bylaw regulating unusual or exotic pets will be up to the Board of Health, which will take up the issue during a meeting at 6:15 tonight in Town Hall.
"We're looking at it, but does the Board of Health want to step in," Giacalone asked. "You have to take into consideration how many snakes there are in town, how it will effect pet shops - there is a lot to think about."
Saugus wrestles with potential python problem

SAUGUS ADVERTISER (Massachusetts) 24 July 08 Exotic pet bylaw pondered (Mike Gaffney)
Saugus: Displaying a Burmese python in front of a Saugus nursery school was the last straw for Stephen Sweezey.
On July 15 officers dispersed a Lynn resident spotted near the Shining Stars Learning Center who had a snake measuring 5-8 feet in length wrapped around his shoulders.
Sweezey, a Precinct 2 Town Meeting member and lieutenant with the Saugus Police Department, believes more and more potentially dangerous exotic animals are showing up in public places.
Back in May officers responded to a complaint of a male walking down Essex Street with two large snakes. Sweezey said the male informed the patrolmen that his father breeds snakes in his spare time.
What concerns Sweezey is the frequency of owners bringing exotic pets to public areas, particularly when they are around children.
“This is becoming a problem from a public safety standpoint,” Sweezey said.
Now Sweezey is leading the charge to prevent exotic pets from appearing in public. He sat down with the Board of Health Monday night to discuss establishing a regulation or town bylaw to achieve that result.
Currently the town has no laws restricting an owner from taking a pet python out for a walk on a public street, which Sweezey hopes to rectify.
Sweezey said he has no qualms with people keeping permissible exotic animals as pets in their homes. But he stressed a sticky situation surfaces when residents have to come into contact with exotic species on a street or playground.
“I’m not saying we should knock on doors and force people to turn over their tarantulas or scorpions,” Sweezey said. “My point is a segment of the population exists that doesn’t want exotic species coming into contact with them or their kids.”
Certain diseases can be transmitted from exotic species to humans, Sweezey said. For example, he reported that people can contract salmonella from touching reptiles such as the python that caused a stir last week.
Many children probably don’t realize a reptile can spread salmonella, Sweezey said. He worried that curious youngsters might pet a python or other reptile without understanding the risk involved.
If nothing is done to curb the public presence of exotic species, Sweezey warned a day could come where one of these animals seriously injures a person.
“And then people will ask why the government didn’t do something when it had the chance,” Sweezey remarked.
After hearing from Sweezey, the Board of Health told him his suggestion to draw up regulations restricting exotic species would be taken under advisement.
Chairman Joseph Vinard wondered which department would enforce such a regulation. He also raised the possibility this action would open the floodgates for parties to argue that different animals are a threat to public safety.
Board member Stephen Rappa said it might be difficult for the board to determine which animals constitute a potential health hazard and thus be kept away from public areas.
“It’s a slippery slope,” Rappa said, noting someone could make the case a cat carrying feline leukemia is dangerous to humans.
Vinard said any regulation should be run past town counsel to ensure the board doesn’t overstep its boundaries.
As a deterrent Sweezey said pet owners found violating the proposed law should have to pay a fine.
Sweezey told the Advertiser his preference is for the town to adopt a regulation restricting exotic pets. Another option would be to request a new bylaw at Town Meeting, he added.
“I want people in town government to take this seriously,” Sweezey said. “We need something in our laws that deals with this type of activity.”
Exotic pet bylaw pondered