Reptile & Amphibian Forums

and arrested and ordered to go through mental evaluation ? Why ? I don't know how to find the artical but it was on all of the Topeka news stations. After having some of the pytons in his collection and other reptiles he was trying to rid his collection. The news didn't say why. He found homes for several but a 15 footer ( supposedly and at 400 pounds > right ) couldn't be placed. So he killed it in his back yard by cutting the snakes head off. He even called animal control and told them he was going to do this. The news media showed the guy in handcuffs > why ? and the snake being carted off in a bedsheet make shift body bag with the snakes head in a pillow case. The surrounding niehbors were releived that after this guy had some of the snakes for 20 years he got rid of them and a few were interviewd saying that now they can let thier kids play outside > ?
Questions: even though killing the snake and decapitating which is horrible, why was he arrested and ordered to go through mental health evaluation ?

Sorry about spelling

Chambo

Probably because decapitation is not a valid method of euthanasia in most places and is considered animal cruelty. Animal control should have offered to find a vet or other facility that could have euthanized the animal. I'm rather impressed that a city is considering a reptile on par with a dog or cat, becuase if someone decapitated a dog in their backyard, that could be misdermeanor or felony cruelty, depending on state laws and the events that occured (was it a one stroke and done event, or did it take several tries?).

Katrina