12ft (3.7m) python kills toddler

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Originally Posted by Colin1

You have a point (and you're right, I don't think they should be outlawed)
but guns don't proactively recognise a weakness in their cabinet design, break out and go looking for kids to shoot. That's the difference here, keep a gun out of harm's way, it'll stay out of the way, a snake likely won't be so inclined.

Why do you keep saying "go looking for kids"? Snakes do not do this either!

Originally Posted by Colin1

You said it, wild animals
No, they kill to eat but I think that's little comfort to anyone who's just had a child killed by a wild animal that was offered the convenience of living in the same house as its prey.

I think it's significant that if someone forgets to feed them, they consider humans as a viable alternative. If I forget to feed Tiddles the cat I don't have to worry about being woken in the middle of the night with his jaws clamped around my neck.

That is still not a reason to not have snakes as pets. In fact I have not seen a viable reason not. If one is responsible, they are not a problem at all.

[diddyriddick]

As to the label, slow down, Kemosabe! I never meant to imply that you, or anybody else was stoopid for having snakes as pets. My point was that it must be assumed that anything that can be dangerous will be dangerous. When my daughter was born, I took steps to secure my firearms because I was being a smart parent. This particular person did NOT take steps,a nd therefore was a STOOPID parent. I was not attacking snake owners in general, but this particular snake owner. Sorry for any confusion.

[lesofprimus]

Chris did admit that he was incorrect in his statememnt riddick on the previous page.... His wife is a Biologist and corrected him I believe....

[diddyriddick]

Originally Posted by lesofprimus

Chris did admit that he was incorrect in his statememnt riddick on the previous page.... His wife is a Biologist and corrected him I believe....

Sorry. Missed that one somehow. But that was secondary. Really was attacking the stupid parent, not the stupid pet owner.

[lesofprimus]

I just came back from my boys' golfing lesson.... One of the waitresses up there was talking about how the python ate the baby.... I had to correct her as to what really happened.....

Im not exactly sure, but I dont think an 8 foot Python could swallow a baby... Now a 14 footer, yea, serious trouble....

[diddyriddick]

Originally Posted by lesofprimus

I just came back from my boys' golfing lesson.... One of the waitresses up there was talking about how the python ate the baby.... I had to correct her as to what really happened.....

Im not exactly sure, but I dont think an 8 foot Python could swallow a baby... Now a 14 footer, yea, serious trouble....

It might surprise you just how wide a snake can get it's jaws. They literally unhinge at the joint of upper and lower jaws.

[Butters]

The snake's owner was a dangerous moron. Just read this...

Autopsy: Girl Asphyxiated By Python - Orlando News Story - WKMG Orlando

BTW, an 8.5' snake just might be able to swallow a premature newborn, but a two-year old is a bit of a stretch...

[Vassili Zaitzev]

Read the link butters. That guy was an idiot for using rope and a quilt to secure the cage. I'm not a fan of snakes, but I don't see why someone can't have one as a pet as long as they use their brain.

[lesofprimus]

Ummm riddick, I was a US Navy SEAL for almost 10 years man, I think I know what the capabilities of constrictors are....

I watched one eat a deer in a Starlight Scope once....

[Butters]

I think you've misconstrued the intent of my post. If you look back thru the thread you'll see that I have defended the responsible ownership of big snakes. It was the 'rope and quilt' thing that led me to call the guy a dangerous moron.

JL

[Marcel]

We have snakes. But not big ones as I believe it's not smart to have these with little kids like mine. Accidents always tends to happen and why live on the edge? Ours are nice little garter snakes. Actually quite silly creatures. A goldfish has a better memory then these snakes
BTW they also tend to turn on their owner. If you've worked in the garden, they think you smell like worm, so they'll try and eat you. Usually not the best idea they could have as they hardly penetrate the skin
BTW Chris, very good looking snake!

[Doughboy]

Originally Posted by Marcel

We have snakes. But not big ones as I believe it's not smart to have these with little kids like mine. Accidents always tends to happen and why live on the edge? Ours are nice little garter snakes. Actually quite silly creatures. A goldfish has a better memory then these snakes
BTW they also tend to turn on their owner. If you've worked in the garden, they think you smell like worm, so they'll try and eat you. Usually not the best idea they could have as they hardly penetrate the skin
BTW Chris, very good looking snake!

I have no problem with owning a Garter snake.

[Njaco]

Why did I wait so long to check this thread? Should have backed up Chris sooner!

5. Take precautions as they said, and you will be fine.

This is the KEY point! He said the snake had gotten loose as early as Wednesday! This idiot should never have owned a snake. No permit and obvious improper care of an exotic, dangerous animal. Its not so much the point that nobody should own them as much as do you KNOW how to own them. I would say after 30 years of meeting and dealing with people who own these types of snakes and any other type of potentially dangerous animal that 8 out 10 don't know what the hell they are doing. Kinda like owning a Ferrari auto. Just because it can go 250 mph doesn't mean you drive it at 250mph. You must take extra care with all that power.

And the first fundamental that must be understood is that it is a wild animal. Period. It will not become domesticated. It may seem that way only because it has adapted to your enviornment but it can still be dangerous. This snake was only doing what God intended it to do, God just forgot to give the dope who claimed him a few more brain cells to use.

Colin...I can't see why it could be construed as irresponsible, I played football with our dogs, wrestled with our dogs, playing wargames and took our dogs prisoner and invariably ended up sleeping in a big heap with our dogs, none of them ever tried to harm me.

I usually hear that as the dog takes a chunk of my leg! In most cases it won't bite you if it considers you the Alpha member of its "pack". But again, there are idiots that own dogs. EDIT: Don't mean this as a putdown for you, Collin. I was referncing the majority of owners who get in trouble. Sorry.

The pit bull. Great dog. Calm demeanor and very loyal. Strongest jaws in the canine world. But because it has become a status symbol within a certain culture and through that, abused and misrepresented, the reputation grows. And these irresponsible, back yard breeders continue the myth and trouble, breeding geneictally inferior animals who then cause problems later. Add in the stupid owners who think its "cool" to have a 'pittbuhll' only as an accessory and you have major problems throughout the country. Walk into any animal shelter, especially near a major city and I guarantee that 25 to 75% of the animals are pits. Not UKC bloodlines but a mix-mash of ill-tempered and wasted canines who someone once thought was "cool".

some stats on bites:

1994 - #1 biting dog in California: the Cocker Spaniel
The Dalmation once held that spot, also.
Dogs that cause the most deaths - #1 the Rottweiller followed by pits and then German Shepherds.

I cover 327 square miles with around 270,000 population. In a week's time, every week, I handle 2 - 3 dog bites. That means investigating injuries and sometimes deaths (not human so far but several other animals) caused by dogs. Thats just me in a department of 10 officers who also handle a like work load. Almost each and every time its someone who is careless and lazy owning a dangerous dog. And everyone suffers. Its a big problem.

Around 25% of hospital emergency room visits are for animal bites. About 75% of a police officers calls that are not directly Police related involve animals. And there have been too many times to count that I have had an animal suffer, either through injury or court-ordered euthansia, because of irresponsible owners.

I've said enough. It doesn't matter what pet someone has. You have to look at the other end of the leash to get an idea.

[vikingBerserker]

A rope and a quilt????????????

Holy (cough) some people should not be allowed to own pets or have kids.

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Originally Posted by Njaco

Why did I wait so long to check this thread? Should have backed up Chris sooner!



This is the KEY point! He said the snake had gotten loose as early as Wednesday! This idiot should never have owned a snake. No permit and obvious improper care of an exotic, dangerous animal. Its not so much the point that nobody should own them as much as do you KNOW how to own them. I would say after 30 years of meeting and dealing with people who own these types of snakes and any other type of potentially dangerous animal that 8 out 10 don't know what the hell they are doing. Kinda like owning a Ferrari auto. Just because it can go 250 mph doesn't mean you drive it at 250mph. You must take extra care with all that power.

And the first fundamental that must be understood is that it is a wild animal. Period. It will not become domesticated. It may seem that way only because it has adapted to your enviornment but it can still be dangerous. This snake was only doing what God intended it to do, God just forgot to give the dope who claimed him a few more brain cells to use.



I usually hear that as the dog takes a chunk of my leg! In most cases it won't bite you if it considers you the Alpha member of its "pack". But again, there are idiots that own dogs. EDIT: Don't mean this as a putdown for you, Collin. I was referncing the majority of owners who get in trouble. Sorry.

The pit bull. Great dog. Calm demeanor and very loyal. Strongest jaws in the canine world. But because it has become a status symbol within a certain culture and through that, abused and misrepresented, the reputation grows. And these irresponsible, back yard breeders continue the myth and trouble, breeding geneictally inferior animals who then cause problems later. Add in the stupid owners who think its "cool" to have a 'pittbuhll' only as an accessory and you have major problems throughout the country. Walk into any animal shelter, especially near a major city and I guarantee that 25 to 75% of the animals are pits. Not UKC bloodlines but a mix-mash of ill-tempered and wasted canines who someone once thought was "cool".

some stats on bites:

1994 - #1 biting dog in California: the Cocker Spaniel
The Dalmation once held that spot, also.
Dogs that cause the most deaths - #1 the Rottweiller followed by pits and then German Shepherds.

I cover 327 square miles with around 270,000 population. In a week's time, every week, I handle 2 - 3 dog bites. That means investigating injuries and sometimes deaths (not human so far but several other animals) caused by dogs. Thats just me in a department of 10 officers who also handle a like work load. Almost each and every time its someone who is careless and lazy owning a dangerous dog. And everyone suffers. Its a big problem.

Around 25% of hospital emergency room visits are for animal bites. About 75% of a police officers calls that are not directly Police related involve animals. And there have been too many times to count that I have had an animal suffer, either through injury or court-ordered euthansia, because of irresponsible owners.

I've said enough. It doesn't matter what pet someone has. You have to look at the other end of the leash to get an idea.

Thanks for the post. A very rational one as well. When one just takes a step back and looks at the whole picture, one sees that having snakes is not a terribly difficult or dangerous thing to do. You just have to use some brains and some common sense.