Reptile & Amphibian Forums

OK here is the story...

Just had some neighbors rent the house next door to me. They move in with music blasting while they unload their stuff into the house. I hate saying it but these folks look a little on the metha-amphetamine side if you know what I mean.

Well, they must have seen me with a snake outside or heard about me having snakes in the house so what do they do? They call the Sherrif... I know the Sherrif and one of his deputies pretty well so he calls me at work and says he is sending someone out to my house... So I leave work at go home to meet the deputy.

Deputy takes the complaint... Tells them there is nothing wrong with me keeping snakes. We live in the COunty and there is no ordinance against that... He even tells them that I can have a goat, cow, parrot, or whatever... I know it doesnt matter, but he is required to file a report on the matter... That kind of burns me up..

Thing about it is all my neighbors know about my snakes.. All their kids come over to look at them, the grown-ups do too... though most of them don't want me to take them out of the enclosures while they are here. THey like to look, just not touch.

What really ticks me off about the whole thing is is that these folks don't say hi, how ya doin, go to hell, or anything. If they would have asked me about them I would have told them about the snakes, showed them to them if they wanted, ensured that they knew these snakes were in enclosures that they would not get out of, and all that jazz. Instead they call the law...

Next day their daughter wants to come see the snakes... I hated to but I told her that it would probably be best if she just stayed over on her side of her yard and that I wouldnt be showing her any snakes. (I said it nicely)...

The whole thing is just stupid...

Scott

THAT'S A BUNTCH OF BS!!!!!!!!!! man, im ticked off just reading that! man, i feel your anger. they should have talked to you first. anyways, good luck with them.

We cannot always choose our neighbors. I am fortunate enough to have neighbors who ar intrigued by my collection, even if a bit frightened.
I too, am sorry to hear of your predicament, and it angers me as well that some people are so ignorant, that they would contact law-enforcement for such a matter. I’m amazed the Sheriff’s Dept. even sent a deputy out, it seems like a waste of resources and time. I know any of the dispatchers here would simply tell such a caller there is nothing they can do, but if they wish to pursue the matter, they may contact the prosecuting attorney’s office, who would again simply inform them you are completely within your legal rights.
Since no ordinance or law was broken, I am astonished a report was filed!
While I understand your reluctance to allow your neighbors young daughter to view your collection, I wonder if by doing so, you may be capable of preventing another ignorant generation within this family and even motivate the child’s parents to understand that reptiles are by no means something to be feared.
On the other side of the coin, if you did bring them to such an understanding, and they are actually of the character you initially described. I would actually fear for the safety of your collection, as theft has suddenly become rampant amongst our ranks. Just read the latest thread on the indigo snake forum, regarding Rick Sladick’s latest ordeal

If you were to change your mind and allow the child to see the snakes, I would certainly make sure that the parents consented. If they have already called the law, they may be equally as eager to file some sort of frivolous law suit.

Travis

Yeah, I hate it that the kid asked to see them and I said no.. I don't think I'm gonna change my opinion on that though... I just want at this point to stay as far away and have as little contact with the people as I can...

I live just outside a small town in NE Mississippi... I know all my neighbors and while there is always the threat of theft... We all are very good about looking out for one another... Sad thing about it is that I certainly wanted to extend that courtesy to the new neighbors myself... Had they gave me the chance....

I just think I'll let a little time go by and see if things can be smoothed over...

Actually I have thought about buying that house anyway.... This is giving me a good reason.

Scott....

"A snake in the hand can get you a Sheriff in the driveway!"

I'd be pretty steamed. I mean they are JUST moving in,get wind that you have snakes,and call the police without even knowing you or if it's true that you have snakes. Bad first impression in my book and I certainly would not let the kid in to see the snakes especially if her parents just called the police on you for owning them! God forbid you let the kid see the snakes and the parents call the cops for something crazy. Now I would say,you need to go ask your mom/dad if you can see the snakes and then have THEM tell me it's ok. I mean it isn't the kids fault the parents are morons.

Scott,
If you do bring the little girl in to see your snakes, make SURE one of her parents (or some adult witness) is present. If they'll call the police over nothing as they have already done, there's no telling what they'll accuse you of. Don't put yourself in a vulnerable position.

We live on a cul de sac and are pretty much really tight with everyone on the block. Our neighbor and their relatives (brothers) are both selling their houses at the same time.

Well, I had to bring my Black Throat Monitor to the vet so as I'm bringing out the beast, I notice the neighbors plus a realtor staring at me.

Now, my BT is just about 5', and has a very "tempermental" attitude sometimes. I put him in his travel crate and drive off.

I come home to a note on our front door from the local precint. The note was left by a cop who has a son I used to play football with so we know each other, he just didn't know about my collection.

Well, the neighbor's complaint was that I had an uncontrollable alligator in my possession and they either 1) wanted it never taken out because it could scare away potential buyers, or 2) be taken away since and I quote, "that type of thing doesn't belong in this neighborhood."

To make a long story short, the complaint was dropped by the precint because there are no laws against owning a monitor in my county. We (Father and myself) had a conversation with our neighbors... After about 20 minutes we came to an agreement. During the week, I'd keep my two snakes (Burm and JCP) and monitor inside because people looking at houses only come around on the weekdays, and on the weekend I can take them all out just aslong as I don't ever leave them alone....

Now, go figure that this is their first complaint yet I'm always bringing my burm outside with me... Sure, he might not be that big yet (approaching 5'), but most people have a fear of any snake... Oh well... All things seem to be heading back to normal... But I still get the stares...

Yeah,

I'm sure that everyone in these forums has had something or another similar to our situations happen to them in the past.

When my wife and I were looking for a house, we picked a realtor and were looking in an "exclusive" neighborhood... (translation=overpriced and full of people with wallets stuck up their butts)

Anyway, we saw this house that was really nice had a lot of room and had an air conditioned small shop... Of course, me being me I am thinking this shop would be perfect for my snake collection... SO I look to my wife and say, "hey, I think this would be perfect for my snakes!" The realtor is totally hit by surprise... She asks what I meant, I tell her, and then she proceeds to tell me that she doesnt think that the people in this type of neighborhood would "allow that"... I asked her if she still wanted to sell me the house... She said that she wanted to sell the house, but that she has a reputation to keep up and that I should consider not bringing the snakes to this neighborhood. Well, that kind of pissed me off slightly.... (to say the least) I said a couple curse words, got my wife and got into our car.... (the realtor was without a ride at this point!LOL) and drove off... Two months later, I worked a deal with another realtor, got into a great neighborhood, bigger house (3500 sq feet, bigger shop-2500 sq feet, bigger yard-5 acres)... (no, not "exclusive" and sent that realtor a copy of the commission that the new realtor made.

And by the way, just 3 weeks ago... In that "exclusive" neighborhood... The IRS came and raided the home of one of the "big wheels" in town... Go figure...

Scott