Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i was flipping through the channels on tv to see what was on, and i came across the show cops... i watched as the police man was called to a house that involved a snake... i guess the people who lived there hated snakes and so they called the police to come over and deal with it... well i totally disagree with what i saw!
i think the snake was venomous?... but im not 100% sure... it was long and black, and it had a white belly... thats all i could see...well...
one of the police men wasnt about to go near this animal so he called for backup to come and help get the snake... the snake was crawling on the shutters of the windows just checking things out and to me it looks like the snake was having a good time... so first the one cop goes over to the snake as its hanging off the side of the shutter and SPRAYS IT WITH MACE!!! im like wtf?!.. then the cop walks around to the front pourch near the front door and he pulls out his baton and just wack this poor snake on the head and kills it...
i almost started to cry cause this situtation could of been delt with in a better way, animal control could have come out to help or something... the snake didnt deserve to be killed for crawling on a house!
i was suprised that this was even shown on tv... it upset me and still is...
thought i would let you all know about this curel act...
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Under a dead ohio sky,
Eleven has been and will be waiting,
Defending his light,
And wondering...
Where the hell have I been?
Sleeping, lost, and numb.
So glad that I have found you.
I am wide awake and heading home.
TOOL

Dosen't surprise me at all.

Haven't you ever had to deal with the cops?

People in general suck but cops (with the rare exception) take it up 20000000%
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1.1 Balls (1.0 het clown 0.1 normal)
1.1 Kittys and
0.1 WC Human
"I need evaluation...and dinner; and by dinner I don't meen gnome heads!"

that was a black rat snake..
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The Crawl Space

Not everyone knows everything about snakes. And, like Tosha pointed out before, having a fear of snakes is very common. While I agree that the killing of the snake may not have been humane or fair, but in the eyes of someone who is trying to protect the public, that may have been the only option.
Cops enforce the law, and they do what they think is right. Some cops think more strongly than others about certain things, but without cops, there would be chaos.
Maybe you have had a bad run in with a police officer or a sheriff, but consider this... They are there to protect the law, and protect your rights. All the times you have never been involved with cops, they have been protecting you, your family, and your property.
Be fair in your observations, and think about what if the snake had been a venomous one and there were people around.
Again, I'm not condoning the actions, but for those people out there who aren't Herpers, and I know there are MANY, it may have been the only thing to do at the time.
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-Ohh, what a Lady-

Balls for Life, Baby!

But if it were a dog just running around, not harming anyone, do you really think they'd kill it?!?! HECK NO! If they did, the public would be up in arms. Hypocrisy at it's best.

yep.......could have done it better in that case though..

2 cops knocked on my door about 2 weeks ago........they had an odd snake in a bag they found on a city street.....

said it was red and yellow......

it was an albino corn........year old maybe

I laughed........we talked...they left........

one held it but you could tell he wasn't happy about it as he could have been...........

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There is caos with cops. Safety and order are illusions. Accept this and get on with your life. Most cops are just a-holes with some kind of inferiority complex or, worse yet, badly disguised gangsters. Sure, there are a couple of good ones here and there. I know a few guys that became cops for all the right resons and never got caught up in the power of their post. But the vast majority are crooked as hell. A guy I know (yeah,I know; it's always "a guy I know" , who for obviouse reasons will remain anonymous, confirmed for me that the police force in the town he was a cop in was pushing more drugs than any of the petty thugs. He told me this in explanation of why he was quiting the force. I didn't say that cops suck because of the murder of the snake, that just makes those particular cops cowards. I said they suck because there is more honor umoung theives and murderers than amoung the police force. At least theives and murderers don't commit their crimes in the name of the state.
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1.1 Balls (1.0 het clown 0.1 normal)
1.1 Kittys and
0.1 WC Human
"I need evaluation...and dinner; and by dinner I don't meen gnome heads!"

i have a lot of police officers in my family and we think you SUCK
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billy jean king
BugBusters

little girls like you would never say that to a cop in person
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billy jean king
BugBusters

Who are you referring to?
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-Ohh, what a Lady-

Balls for Life, Baby!

..thats woo
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billy jean king
BugBusters

I agree, but people are entitled to their opinions...
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-Ohh, what a Lady-

Balls for Life, Baby!

hahahahah You are funny! I wouldnt have a problem telling a cop they suck. Last I checked you couldnt be arrested for that, so no need to be a scared little girl. By the way let me clear the air, MOST.... not ALL cops suck!!!!!!!!!

GP
B.O.A Inc

Agreed. Besides, I've been studying various martial arts since I was 7. The last guy I fought (years ago, and I only fight when absolutly necessary) was an ex-marine. He tried to get me in some kind of hold and got his jaw shattered. Out cold. I'm not afraid of some under-trained law enforcement officer. Plus luke I said in me second post, I know some really good cops but in general they suck. I stand by this statment.
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1.1 Balls (1.0 het clown 0.1 normal)
1.1 Kittys and
0.1 WC Human
"I need evaluation...and dinner; and by dinner I don't meen gnome heads!"

Like I said on my previous post, LOTS OF PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND!
Not just cops... I don't know why people are so angry at police officers, but other people, not just cops, hurt and kill snakes when they don't know any better. DO NOT BLAME THE PEOPLE, BLAME THE IGNORANCE. Teach people that you know about it, and that will help the problem...

Teach a man to fish... (kinda).

Please do not make this thread into a cop bashing thread. Cops are normal people like we are, but have a very underappreciated job.
We owe a lot to them, even if YOU don't appreciate it...
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-Ohh, what a Lady-

Balls for Life, Baby!

In a community near here, a local drug dealer was arrested. His 10' Burmese Python must have been left to fend for himself. It got out and started eating the neighbors chickens. The neighbor promptly called the police, who instead of killing the animal, called a friend of mine who is a professional herpetologist, and had him remove the python. He now uses the snake in his presentations in the area schools and such. Some stories do have happy endings.
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Louis Kirkland
Game Balls
Game Ball Pythons

I wouldn't say that all of them suck. But there are many that tend to abuse the power or show an indifference to the people that they are supposed to protect. I just spent the last two years trying to work with the ones in my area and I didn't find too much to respect. I have worked hard to teach my kids to respect them but they (local police here) have done a great job countering my lessons. It took 10 months to get something done about a neighbor (other side of our duplex). Every day we came home to the smell of "special smoke" that seeped over from the other side. We called the police after trying to work it out with the neighbor and they came over agreed that it was illegal drug activity and then left. We finally got one cop to say the next time we smelled it they would come by verify it was that smoke and then raid the place next door. He did come when we called but after verifying the smell he called and found out that the team that normally worked the raids was out of town in training and nothing could be done. Both of my cars got vandalized shortly there after... I thought it was a mistake for the police to park their patrol car infront of our place. When I brought it up one officer actually said that the neighbor doesn't know who called so it isn't a problem... I don't think he will be making detective anytime soon!

We finally ended up taking matters into our own hands... They were outside one night partying. I grabbed my oldest son said for him to just play along and went outside yelling at him. I asked if the neighbor had seen a snake around, my son had left one of the cages open. I explained that it was a 15 ft albino burmese (chosen because a local friend has one that I knew I could borrow if needed). I told them that he should be fine but I am not sure when my son last fed him and then asked if they had seen their cats lately... It worked, they moved a week later. My only mistake is that I told my son to not come in until he found it... and then forgot to tell him to come back in, poor kid was out there for 30 minutes looking for a snake that didn't exist! Since then we have made sure that the animals get plenty of viewing time in the windows and there have been no further problems.

Yeah, police can be very irritating but they aren't all bad, except where I live!
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Bryan, Atlanta GA

1-0-0 Rescued Ball Python - Apep
0-1-0 Rescued Mountain Horned Dragon - Ki
0-0-1 Rescued Aggressive Bearded Dragon - Zeus
0-0-1 Rescued Non-Alpha Green Iguana - Bud
1-1-0 Rescued Rats... no wait... ROTTEN Little Cats - Ra, Bastet
0-0-1 Rescued Dieting Panda Hamster - Mr. Fluffy
0-1-0 Rescued Little Angelic Kitten - Isis
1-0-0 Horse... whoops... BIG Golden Retriever - Jake
0-1-0 Wife
2-0-0 Kids

Exactly.
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1.1 Balls (1.0 het clown 0.1 normal)
1.1 Kittys and
0.1 WC Human
"I need evaluation...and dinner; and by dinner I don't meen gnome heads!"

Yea but the first time someone steals a snake from you or anything else they are the first ones you call!!! You should have said that cops sucks not all cops.
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5.18 Ball Python
1.0 50% Het Albino Ball Python
0.1 Columbian Red Tail Boa
1.0 Albino Burm
1.1 Normal Burms
1.1 Cal Kings
1.2 Leopard Gecko

Thats true. When I was under 18 I would have hunted them down, broken their knees and taken what was mine but... I'm an adult now and can't do that kind of immature stuff. So use em when you need to and avoid them the rest of the time. Thats the way the system works and until a meteor hits or every one all at once realizes how retarded the system is, we are stuck with these seeming contradictions.
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1.1 Balls (1.0 het clown 0.1 normal)
1.1 Kittys and
0.1 WC Human
"I need evaluation...and dinner; and by dinner I don't meen gnome heads!"

4 foot 4 inch black ratsnake VS a 6 foot plus black cop *(probably 220 pounds)........wussyboy too

seen it more than once........sux everytime.....

they should just walk up....grab snake and take it for a ride.....

but people are stupid........and afraid......

always......

lady called me once and asked if I caught snakes......says she had one hanging around her porch looking for bird nests in bushes.....(she saw an ad in paper for snakes I had)....

anyways.......I got there and asked her why she hit it in the head with a baseball bat...told me no...just threw the bat and didn't hit it.but it didn't scare it.......well..I told her.she hit it and showed her the snakes' head...eye all bugged out and half the head swelled up twice normal size......

5 foot female black rat....still hanging onto her porch post......I told her next time let it alone and or call me first..Duh.....told her I'd drive the 18 miles to keep her happy.......

guess the snake would have been happier too.......

I kept her for a couple weeks.....hink I put antibiotics to her......face went down a little.....left her go in a good spot.......her and God had to talk it over.........she was in a friend's yard......thick piles......

anyways.......

I hate people............
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not just with snakes
(although they possibly get it the worst than any other animal out there)

people are scum when it comes to animals they are not being educated enough, there isnt enough emphisis on animal cruelty in elementary school and other levels. People grow hating on snakes i have personally witnessed at least 11 wild snakes (imagine pets Ive heard of mothers poisoning their childs pet snake waterbowl) killed by kids and old f*ckin geezers alike. At the same age were thought about respecting others and individual human rights, school boards across country have to start integrating anti- animal cruelty curriculum. Its total bullsh*t what people can get away with and sadly one cant blame them because they dont know any better. If i ever make it to some sort of public office i will definately push for or campaign against animal cruelty. Living in Miami, snakes will be on the top of my list.

That is a very strong statement.

Yes, people have irrational fears of animals. I happen to be deadly afraid of spiders. I will shriek like a little girl, then promptly squash it. I know that it may not be the best thing to do, but it comes from fear.
Education is absolutly necessary for the public to understand that not all snakes are deadly and vicious. That is why we Herpers all need to be able to share our experiences with the world one person at a time.
The Media portrays only what is interesting that day. That is why snakes, pitbulls, and many other animals and even race groups get the bad rap for things people see on television.
I may sound like a preacher, but we must rise above it and share with the public how awesome snakes (and other critters and people) can be.
Make an example of yourself and be all that you can be.... (nanananaaa in the army...)
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-Ohh, what a Lady-

Balls for Life, Baby!

A few years ago when I was breeding bearded dragons, I had occasion to take 10 babies to a friend in Ft. Myers. We had stopped for lunch in a shopping center, briefly leaving the babies on the truck floor in a canvas tote bag.

That was when somebody chose to break the window, stealing the tote bag and a few other things of little or no value. I am sure they were surprised to find what they had taken. A nearby worker got the license plate number of the thieves (out of state plate)

I called the police, who took the statement, and then I started calling all of the local petshops, alerting them. Soon the one in the local mall called me to let me know somebody was going to be bringing in 10 baby dragons and didn't seem to know much about them.

I was really amazed at the effort put in by the Ft. Myers detectives. They already knew the seller's name given to the shop on the phone matched the name of the license plate from the thieve's car. They staked out the store, with me in the back to ID the lizards. They had several plain clothes guys in the mall, waiting. When the guy didn't show, I went home and some of the detectives left. But the guy called a little later (got lost!). So the detectives came back. They had to tackle him as he ran from the shop, breaking a fish tank! I immediately got my dragons back, in good shape. He supposedly has to repay my broken truck window to get off probabation (it has been a few years now).

The police put in a LOT of man hours to catch this guy (although I was the one who did the groundwork to find out where he would be selling them). I was so surprised how seriously they took it, although the baby Sandfire dragons at that time were selling for enough $$$ to make it a felony, I think.

Sorry for the long, long, post, but it seems appropriate to give credit where credit is due.

ENOUGH SAID..
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billy jean king
BugBusters

n/p

Thats funny. I don't remember the cops ever doing any thing but making a bad situation worse. Like when they took my little sisters friend out in the woods beat him, stunned him, and left him for dead. He crawled into his house, had a heart attack and died. What did he do to deserve this? He was out too late on a school night and was found in an area where a fight had been reported. If I hadn't lived everywhere from the ghetto to the super wealthy suburbs and seen the cops being crooked everywhere than I might addmit to this being an isolated incident but it's not. There are some good cops, maby the ones in your familly are but in the main, no. By the way the town this took place in is a small agricultural town in MA, not the ghetto.
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1.1 Balls (1.0 het clown 0.1 normal)
1.1 Kittys and
0.1 WC Human
"I need evaluation...and dinner; and by dinner I don't meen gnome heads!"

is an indication of the behavior the rest of your "cop" family I fear for our society.

Chill

Cheryl

Kathy,
Thanks for the story, it's good to hear something uplifting after some of the other posts in this thread. So did the theif ever find out how much the little beardies really cost? Have you had any not-so-positive herp-related experiences with the police before? (maybe out collecting or something) I agree that informed police officers would be much more help in a situation like this (the cops show), but I would hope that any cop would take a theft charge seriously, no matter what goods were taken. I just wish the Division of Wildlife Resource officers here in Utah were a little more informed as far as herps go. Anyway, thanks again for the great story.
Evan Jamison

What about when a cop is shot for no reason doing a routine traffic stop? And people wonder why most cops are uptight, Being a cop is a thankless gig, you cant ever win, people will hate you, and if you mess up they will hate you more. The monitors forum has quite a few cops that are on there, there are a few cops in Mesa, AZ that I sell baby beardeds and corn snakes to. I know a few policemen and when I got arrested when I was 15 I was happy after four weeks, who knows what kind of trouble I could have gotten into? Granted there are a few corrupt cops out there but dont let a few bad apples spoil the whole bunch, All snakekeepers are constantly telling others that not all snake keepers keep there snakes irresponsibly, yet the public always seems to think that we do, So we are just as hypocritical in my opinion
thanks
tony butler

Yes there are good ones and bad ones. I have some good friends that are cops back in NC. It frustrates me that the area I live in is supposed to be one of the best thriving areas in GA and I have had to have the police out so many times it is crazy. I called and asked if they could please start patroling our neighborhood since cars and homes were getting broken into on a daily basis and was told that they would be glad to set up an appointment and discuss it with me. That night the screens were shreaded on our porch and both of my cars were spray painted with Kilz primer. They came out to take the report and the police officer actually taped our conversation since they said, as they put it, very upset when I called! He took the statement and then told me about a new home monitoring service that they provide for a monthly fee! THAT is what we have here. They even say if you join the response time will be better.

I do have to say though when my wife started answering the door wearing our bp it was rather amusing (this was after the breakins etc). One fell backwards off the front porch... I feel soo safe!
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Bryan, Atlanta GA

1-0-0 Rescued Ball Python - Apep
0-1-0 Rescued Mountain Horned Dragon - Ki
0-0-1 Rescued Aggressive Bearded Dragon - Zeus
0-0-1 Rescued Non-Alpha Green Iguana - Bud
1-1-0 Rescued Rats... no wait... ROTTEN Little Cats - Ra, Bastet
0-0-1 Rescued Dieting Panda Hamster - Mr. Fluffy
0-1-0 Rescued Little Angelic Kitten - Isis
1-0-0 Horse... whoops... BIG Golden Retriever - Jake
0-1-0 Wife
2-0-0 Kids