Reptile & Amphibian Forums

TAMPA - A man hospitalized after a bite from his pet snake is now facing multiple charges for illegally owning the venomous reptile.

The Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission says Jamie DePriest, 31, was bitten by his pet Gaboon viper on August 24. Officers went to his Anderson Avenue home and the other residents outside, unsure of where the snake was. The reptile was located in its aquarium without the top on it.

DePriest, who officials say drove himself to St. Joseph's Hospital, was treated for a bite to his left index finger. He told Fish & Wildlife officials that he bought the snake in New York and brought it to Florida and knew of the state's laws regarding keeping venomous snakes as pets.

Officers say he faces eight misdemeanor charges, including owning the venomous snake without a permit and failure to properly cage the reptile.

Fish & Wildlife say two children live in the home with DePriest and his girlfriend, and an investigation is being conducted by Hillsborough deputies and Child Services regarding the safety of the kids living in the same house as the dangerous snake.
www.myfoxtampabay.com/dpp/news/local/hillsborough/owner-bitten-by-pet-viper-faces-charges-082710

But where is the rest of it: you know- "...and hundreds of other sick and dying reptiles and exotic animals kept in deplorable conditions (plastic storage boxes), filthy house condemned as unihabitable, sex perversion, etc..."

Oh well, one demerit for the hobbyists, and another for the AZA crowd:

http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/dpps/news/tiger-escapes-from-cage-at-miami-zoo-dpgonc-km-20100828_9383409
Tiger escapes at zoo

Tigers are afraid of monkeys?

Yeah-seems they cause indigestion
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Brad Chambers
WWW.HCU-TX.ORG

Breeder of:
Green Tree Pythons
Pastel, Pinstripe, FIRE, Piebald, Clown, Lavender Albino, Leucistic, and Spider Ball Pythons
Striped Colombian Boa Constrictors
Kenyan, Rufescens, and Conicus Sand Boas
Red Phase Western Hognose Snakes
Spider Western Hognose Snakes
Albino Western Hognose Snakes
Locality Trans-Pecos Mexican Hognose Snakes
Southern Hognose Snakes
Eastern Hognose Snakes
Tricolor Hognose Snakes
Hypo Checkered Garter Snakes
Eastern Blackneck Garter Snakes
Stillwater Hypo Bullsnakes
Patternless Bullsnakes
S. GA Eastern Kingsnakes
Locality Desert Kingsnakes
Albino Desert Kingsnakes
Hypo Desert Kingsnakes
Mexican Black Kingsnakes
Desert Phase and Striped Desert California Kingsnakes
Locality Mexican Milksnakes
Spotted Mexican Milksnakes
Tangerine Mexican Milksnakes
Locality Alterna
Abbott Okeetee Cornsnakes
Mexican Baird's Ratsnakes
Cape Housesnakes
Tangerine Albino African Fat -Tailed Geckos
Locality Spotted Turtles

Unfortunately this is another black eye for the hobby! Which is a real shame since this individual showed a real passion for the hobby, but just went about it the wrong way.

Misdemeanor charges aside for having the snake, he is going to suffer a greater issue with the fact that he is going to lose the finger which is grossly narcotic.

I think what you mean is necrotic, but your wording is much funnier.