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An Oakdale couple has been cited for allegedly possessing pythons over 12 feet long without a permit and illegally selling animals on the Internet by The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division, authorities reported.

The Allen Parish Sheriff's Office executed a search warrant Friday at the residence of David Beauchemin, 43, and Tawni Beauchemin, 23, both of Oakdale, officials said. The Sheriff's Office obtained the warrant based on a public complaint about Internet sales of animals.

The Beauchemins' residence had been portrayed as a safe haven animal shelter, officials said. The public complaint came after somebody gave the Beauchemin's a dog for safe haven only to find it listed on the Internet a few days later for sale.

The Sheriff's Office contacted state wildlife officials about pythons found in the residence that were longer than 12 feet, which require a permit to possess, according to a Wildlife and Fisheries press release.

The Beauchemins were cited with fraud for the Internet activity and 22 counts of illegally possessing pythons over 12 feet in length without the required permit, authorities said, and David Beauchemin was also charged with obstruction of justice. The Sheriff's Office said additional charges are pending.

Wildlife agents seized the pythons and placed them in an animal shelter, officials said.

David Beauchemin remained at the Allen Parish Jail without bond while Tawni Beauchemin was released so she could tend to the remaining pythons shorter than 12 feet in length and the other animals at the residence.
www.thetowntalk.com/article/20100323/NEWS01/3230331/1002

Some "safe haven".... There's a herp dealer out in CA who does that. Always looking for animals to adopt/take in. Then sells them later.

Nice.

...if they were so worried about the stupid dog then they shouldve kept it themselves...as it is they GAVE it away and what happened after is none of their business...
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1.0 c.b.02' 7' Pastel Colombian Boa(thanks Bill!)"Maverick"
0.1 c.b.06' 6' Firebelly x Pastel boa "Betty Boa"
0.1 c.b. 07 5' Amazon Basin Redtail Boa Lola Boa
1.0 c.b. 05 6' Hypo Sonoran Gophersnake
1.0 c.b. 05'2' Snow Corn "Zero"
1.0 wc Fl.Cornsnake "Iggy"
0.1 cb Okeetee Cornsnake "Bella"
1.0 wc Easteren Hognose Snake "Snape"

Not really. Depends on what the agreement was.

...if they were worried about the dogs well fair then they shouldve done their homework before just giving it away...im not saying it was right but there was no contract or anything (that Im aware of)so you give up the animal you give up the rights to said animal...
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1.0 c.b.02' 7' Pastel Colombian Boa(thanks Bill!)"Maverick"
0.1 c.b.06' 6' Firebelly x Pastel boa "Betty Boa"
0.1 c.b. 07 5' Amazon Basin Redtail Boa Lola Boa
1.0 c.b. 05 6' Hypo Sonoran Gophersnake
1.0 c.b. 05'2' Snow Corn "Zero"
1.0 wc Fl.Cornsnake "Iggy"
0.1 cb Okeetee Cornsnake "Bella"
1.0 wc Easteren Hognose Snake "Snape"

"Snake farmers booked with cruelty to dogs, cats

OAKDALE, La. (AP) - A couple accused of flouting a snake permit law now also faces charges of cruelty to 17 dogs and five cats taken from their property.

Allen Parish Chief Deputy Grant Willis says 44-year-old David Beauchemin and 23-year-old Tawni Beauchemin were booked Tuesday on 22 cruelty charges. They run High End Herps and Happy Hounds Rescue.

Willis says neighbors had long suspected the couple of feeding stray pets to the snakes. He got a warrant when an animal rescue worker brought evidence they were asking $300 for a dog they had claimed to adopt.

Willis says that's the basis of a theft by fraud charge they also face. He says Beauchemin also was booked with obstructing justice because he ran from deputies and was uncooperative.

They also were cited for keeping 22 snakes more than 12 feet long without the required free permit."

...obviously they didnt feed that dog to their snakes...it hasnt been even proven that they fed any to them(yet)...we will have to wait and see on that...as for them being slobs and keeping their dogs and cats in filth...you really think their the only ones?...there should be stricter laws concerning dog and cat ownership...obviously they took very good care of their snakes thoough...

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1.0 c.b.02' 7' Pastel Colombian Boa(thanks Bill!)"Maverick"
0.1 c.b.06' 6' Firebelly x Pastel boa "Betty Boa"
0.1 c.b. 07 5' Amazon Basin Redtail Boa"Lola Boa"1.0 c.b. 05 6' Blonde Bullsnake "Boo"
1.0 c.b. 05'2' Snow Corn "Zero"
1.0 wc 4' Fl.Cornsnake "Iggy"
0.1 cb 18"Okeetee Cornsnake "Bella"

I'm not sure what point you're trying to make here.

Obviously there is more than meets the eye to this case. And apparently there was enough probable cause for the authorities to press charges. The "theft by fraud" charge certainly does imply that at least the one dog in question may have been obtained under false pretenses.

There are other articles about this on the web that provide more details.

It is common for surrendered or seized animals to be placed with shelters/rescue/foster families/ re-homing individuals and organizations. After "rehabilitation" the animals are usually placed with new homes for an "adoption fee" to help cover the cost.

I understand, this was not done in this case, however the circumstances for long term/permanent shelter would be more appropriate for a primate or big cat; not at dog.
The worrisome part is the question of what exactly became of the dogs and cats he may have taken in in the past.

Unfortunately, far too many seized non-conventional pets/exotics are simply confiscated and then passed around to cronies and insiders, that then sell them (for a re-homing fee), or simply keep a free animal. The confiscators have a line of supporters for this very reason, as well as for the sense of "legitimacy" authority gives them. Let us not forget the altruistic good "cause" and gratification one gets from "taking on" the bad guys and evil doers of this world.

jsc
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"As hard as I've tried, just can't NOT do this"
John Crickmer

There is a back story to all of this, from what I've seen on some forums on the 'net. There are pictures of the "facility" floating around, see if you can find them and then get back to us. Apparently the newly formed LARK (you know USARK, right?) is helping with the confiscated snakes.

I looked at some of the photos last night. Absolutely appalling conditions for any living being. Even the humans did not have indoor plumbing.

Makes you wonder where the money was going.

Probably no money to speak of, just a few penny-anti scams to survive. That's not to discount the possibility of additional poor life choices/behaviors.
That is one big fallacious assumption by most, that anyone that deals in reptiles is making a mint. It's a rich man's game. An expensive hobby/endeavor. Very very few people actually come out ahead.
This guy was obviously a bottom dweller.
jsc
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"As hard as I've tried, just can't NOT do this"
John Crickmer

Interesting, it seems strange that they dug these folks out of the mud right now. No doubt in my mind they are guilty of all kinds of wrongdoing. Oh well, at least after the bill is defeated there will be two less carp in the water than before.

That was more of a figure of speech than anything else.

Oh, you were being facetious. How clever. Now, I'm looking purdy smart, huh...D'oh!!!
jsc

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"As hard as I've tried, just can't NOT do this"
John Crickmer

n/p