Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello Fellow Herpers! I am emailing today to tell my story.

Over a month ago I got a knock on my door. I opened the door their stood a police officer with papers in his hand. My heart went into my throat as I signed for the papers. As I opened the document I see that I was being charged in violation of a city ordinance. The city ordinance bans the possession of “harmful reptiles”.

The first thing I did was contact a lawyer. The lawyer is also a friend that I went to school. I explain the situation and he placed a call to the City/County Building. He was told that neihbors complained about the safety of their children. A lot of thoughts went through my mind….I have never allowed anyone in my house in the town I live in. I never talk to my neighbors about my hobby? No one knows??? How can they say they are harmful when they do not know what I have???

Next, I was advised to get rid of my animals right away or move. I spoke with my wife and at the time we are NOT in a position to move. I was forced to sell most of my animals (breeders) with the advice of my lawyer and WIFE. My lawyer wanted to make sure that most of large boas were not present in case they were able to come into my house. I took almost all the other yearlings and babies to my brothers until this summer when I was planning on moving. I ACTED WAY TOO FAST!

Finally, I had 2 court appearances in the past month. The big one was today. The judge asked some questions about my animals. How they were caged? How big are they? Venomous? His decision today was to throw out the case!

Right now I am the happiest guy in the world. The last month or so has been the most stressful time of my life. I just want to thank those who have emailed or called and gave support!!!!!!!!!!!!! I also want to thank Pete Kahl for the good advice!

I still have a lot of questions about the situation. Who is worried about my boas eating their kids? Did they think I had venomous? How did they know what pets I even have??? Did they see my website and speculate that I had 25’ snakes? Right now I am happy that it is over but I am not too happy with the legal system. I can’t accuse a neighbor of selling drugs with out proof – how can they subpoena me to court on accusations?????

Well it is all over and I have had some good luck in the past few days. Posted is a litter that I had on 5/31/05. The man upstairs works in mysterious ways! Too bad the mom and dad which are still in my possession have been sold during this court process.

Thanks for all the support!

Robert Baker

Baker's Boas

Man what a hassle, but at least you get to keep your boas and not have to move to do so!
The fear of this happening is exactly why I no longer take any of my snakes out into the front yard! There are so many kids in my neighborhood (always playing in the street with no parents around of course) that I would love to be able to walk out with a young boa and do some on the spot education but fear of being sued keeps me from it.
Anyways... congrats on the litter, a little silver lining showing after the gray clouds passed.

GREAT NEWS, Robert. I told you not to panic ... things just did not seem on solid ground for your mysterious accusers.
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Bill Gaines

My Email

Gaines Reptiles Website

That sucks. I hate to hear that someone can report us and we have to defend ourselfs and our pets. I'm glad that it all worked out for you. Sometimes it works the other way as I'm sure you know.
Congrats on the litter of babies. Hopefully this is a sign that good things are coming for you.
Sincerely,
Chuck

>>Hello Fellow Herpers! I am emailing today to tell my story.
>>
>>Over a month ago I got a knock on my door. I opened the door their stood a police officer with papers in his hand. My heart went into my throat as I signed for the papers. As I opened the document I see that I was being charged in violation of a city ordinance. The city ordinance bans the possession of “harmful reptiles”.
>>
>>The first thing I did was contact a lawyer. The lawyer is also a friend that I went to school. I explain the situation and he placed a call to the City/County Building. He was told that neihbors complained about the safety of their children. A lot of thoughts went through my mind….I have never allowed anyone in my house in the town I live in. I never talk to my neighbors about my hobby? No one knows??? How can they say they are harmful when they do not know what I have???
>>
>>Next, I was advised to get rid of my animals right away or move. I spoke with my wife and at the time we are NOT in a position to move. I was forced to sell most of my animals (breeders) with the advice of my lawyer and WIFE. My lawyer wanted to make sure that most of large boas were not present in case they were able to come into my house. I took almost all the other yearlings and babies to my brothers until this summer when I was planning on moving. I ACTED WAY TOO FAST!
>>
>>Finally, I had 2 court appearances in the past month. The big one was today. The judge asked some questions about my animals. How they were caged? How big are they? Venomous? His decision today was to throw out the case!
>>
>>Right now I am the happiest guy in the world. The last month or so has been the most stressful time of my life. I just want to thank those who have emailed or called and gave support!!!!!!!!!!!!! I also want to thank Pete Kahl for the good advice!
>>
>>I still have a lot of questions about the situation. Who is worried about my boas eating their kids? Did they think I had venomous? How did they know what pets I even have??? Did they see my website and speculate that I had 25’ snakes? Right now I am happy that it is over but I am not too happy with the legal system. I can’t accuse a neighbor of selling drugs with out proof – how can they subpoena me to court on accusations?????
>>
>>Well it is all over and I have had some good luck in the past few days. Posted is a litter that I had on 5/31/05. The man upstairs works in mysterious ways! Too bad the mom and dad which are still in my possession have been sold during this court process.
>>
>>Thanks for all the support!
>>
>>Robert Baker
>>
>>
>>Baker's Boas

I think it was very ignorant to put you threw the crap that you been threw,over all this,But I am glad you got it all worked out an congrats on your litter of babies!Eric[Hypoboa]
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E&C's Exotic House of Reptiles

that you had to lose all the animals. When I bought my house back in December the first thing I did was check to see if I was going to be breaking any ordinances for keeping both large reptiles and venemous. Luckily I am okay but I do not invite anyone over, I don't have the snakes in the front yard and try and keep people from seeing in the garage(my rat rack), I shut the garage door as quickly as possible. It really sucks people are so frickin' phobic about our harmless hobby.

Even though you had to get rid of your Boas I am very happy everything worked out in court for you. You should see if the judge wants a Boa of his own Good luck to you!

I think we are going to have to find a way to get your neighbors to move. If they went out of their way to involve the authorities then chances are that they are probably going to try and push the issue. I have a feeling that you have not heard the last of it. Maybe you should consider doing a little friendly boa awareness with your neighbors, if that does not break the ice, then find documentation stating that you are allowed to keep the type of animals in your possesion. If that does not work...... I watch enough CSI, we can come up with something. LOL

and Congrats on the new litter!! Sorry to hear that someone put you through so much stress about your pets. Glad to hear that everything worked out in the end! That's pretty crazy but it sounds like you had a reasonable judge.

Welcome back!

Celia
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Celia Chien

Celia Chien Photography
My Snakes

www.ExoticsByNature.com
www.BallPythonMorphs.com
www.CornsnakeMorphs.com

something like that in the first place!
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Amanda Burke
Email
Burke Reptiles Website

congratulations robert on some beautiful looking babies there and on defeating the nosy neighbors
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Brad Hamlin
"...when im a good snake, they sometimes throw me a rat..."
B&P Constrictors

in your area, a smart judge would always throw out the case. Watch out for new "ordinances." If you had venomous snakes, you might have had more of a fight on your hands. Ophidiophobia is everywhere. It is hard for me to understand it, but it is there.