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THE RECORD (Hackensack, New Jersey) 01 February 11 Fair Lawn man, 25, in critical condition after pet albino cobra bite (Marlene Naanes)
Fair Lawn: A borough man is in critical condition after his pet albino Monocled Cobra bit him, sending him into respiratory distress, police said.
The 25-year-old man bought the cobra, an eastern diamondback rattlesnake and a copperhead snake in Pennsylvania earlier Monday, thinking the snakes’ venom sacks had been removed.
The cobra bit the man about 6:30 p.m., animal control officer Rich DuBarton said. He began having trouble breathing, and his wife called 911 about 9:30 p.m., said Sgt. Rich Schultz.
“When he realized the sacks weren’t removed and he was having issues breathing, they called an ambulance,” Schultz said.
DuBarton said police at the scene said the man was gray and barely breathing.
“The only place you see a cobra is at the zoo,’ DuBarton said. “That’s not something you mess around with. When they bite somebody, it’s usually fatal.”
The man was taken to St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center in Paterson and was later transferred to Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx, N.Y. The hospital has the only snakebite treatment center in the Tri-state area, according to the hospital.
Police did not identify the man.
DuBarton removed the snakes, which were in aquariums, from the River Road home Monday night. The home also had scorpions, tarantulas and a rabbit, DuBarton said.
“That cobra was not happy,” he said. “He had his hood up. I just locked the lids…he definitely was not happy. He was striking at the glass.”
The rattlesnake also was shaking its tail as DuBarton carried it out in an aquarium, he said.
DuBarton took them to the borough pound. The state fish and wildlife department is expected to take the snakes Tuesday.
Owners of snakes need special training and permits, police said.
“This department wishes to remind residents that ownership of species such as these carry immense responsibility, and should always be treated with respect regardless of whether the venom sac has been removed or not,” the Fair Lawn police department said in a statement issued Tuesday morning.
Fair Lawn man, 25, in critical condition after pet albino cobra bite

This is a small community, I think it appropriate to out the seller & "surgeon" that this story revolves around. The guy bought a Copperhead & an EDB as well but the snake that bit him was supposed to be a Venomoid? I have to wonder if it was a reliable source (i.e. Venomoid, Inc.) or from some guy selling it too cheap to be the truth. It'll come out in the end. There will be an investigation & I'd assume charges if he's not just trying to find a scape goat for his mistake. I think someone's lying, either the seller or the guy that got nailed.

This case is just another nail in the coffin for an inevitable ban on the private keeping of venomous reptiles in the U.S. This particular incident has only further reinforced my already extremely negative views on the whole idea of venomoid snakes and everything that surrounds them.

The surrounding states have fallen & the guy that sold the snake & the guy that supposedly did the surgery should at least be questioned & public information. It is our own responsibilty if something happens & I personally believe there are Vets. with knowledge (through experience) qualified to do these surgeries. There are too many hacks out there & the people buying from them while trying to save a few bucks are just as responsible. In the end, this guy is the real problem as he should've done a bit more research on the legalities in NJ & with a surgery as serious as this. Truth is, if he's lying to try & cover his A$$ & would've paid the money for a legitimate Venomoid, we wouldn't be immediately facing the "loss of the North". KY, then OH, now PA. A "pro" In pro/con for Venomoids, an **Utter FAILURE** for stupid people. Darwin always wins. Living is about to become illegal.

I suspect that these were not sold as venomoids, and the guy knew it. He is probably hoping for a lighter sentence, or diverting the blame to some phantom veterinarian.

The whole thing is fishy.

I still don't buy the story of the snake being purchased as a venomoid, to begin with because IF that were true we would should have seen the mysterious persons name by now.

IF the person who sold him a venomoid snake assured him the animal was safe, especially BY phone AFTER the man called saying he had been being bitten by that individual animal, There has to be some responsibility placed on that person for putting the other at risk.

I'm glad to see they describe how the snakes were removed (in their regular enclosures) and that there was no casual aside along the lines of "all snakes were immediately destroyed."