whas that guy on drugs?
who does a stunt like that?
he deserves a slap in the face

Though I do agree the guy wasn't too smart, handling a 14-foot animal on his own and taking it outdoors in that region this time of year, I don't agree that it is a danger to the public or him to be arrested by default. It's more a danger to himself. The last thing we need is another statistic.

yea, it's not exactley givving this hobby a good name.
and i do agree that he chouldn't be arested but you got to understand people, and most of the people out there aren't used to snakes and reptiles and if they would see some guy with a 4 foot snake running around they would be outraged. just imagine what they would think with a 14FOOT snake.

I will never understand the need to take your snake out with you! I know people do, I just don't get it. If you are taking a walk or going shopping leave the snake at home, they aren't dogs and I just can't believe they like going on day trips!
I was at my 'dog' vet the other day and some silly woman (IMO) brought her little Ball Python in, it wasn't eating. It was late evening and the warmest it had been all day was about 10* f., she just had it draped around her neck!! No travel box, no heat pack, no nothing. As I was walking in a woman was walking/running out, I could tell she was all flustered and quickly figured out why. When I got into the exam room I overheard the techs talking...apparently two people left because of the snake. It was still a baby, maybe only 2.5 - 3' but they were still very upset. I was more upset with the stupid owner! lol. Seriously though, she was happy to tell me the snake went everywhere with her! So there she was with a stressed, cold, non-eating snake (with no fecal either) wondering what the trouble could be, and thought nothing of scaring folks off. Go figure.
Anyway, long story longer, I bet the guy didn't have the proper permits. I know in some towns/cities here (NY) you have to register/permit larger snakes and if you don't and get caught there is all sorts of trouble waiting for you. I say he got was he deserved for being an idiot!

i actually saw on cops a guy was kinda doing the same thing along some beach in OC. He had in around his neck and then the cops came over and he shoved it in some backpack all pissed...after they argued of coruse :)

wow crazy, poor snake in all three cases.... i want a corn, id never do that 2 em.
-mel

Wow, that's crazy. The guy definitely could've used a lot better judgement.
Poor snake.

people like that just chouldn't be allowed to have snakes. i don't get it, and this is the kind of things that gives this hobby a bad name.

you said that already i wonder what they did with the snake

I disagree with most of you. LOL. I take my BP all over the place with me, she's only about 22" long and I just wrap her around my wrist like a watch and she goes wherever. However, taking you 14ft python on a freeway is a little nuts... I don't think the snake was a danger to anyone but himself and the snake. I am hip to the idea that everyone is a jerk, therefore I don't let things get to me and I feel that it's unfair for someone to alter their lives for someone's petty stigmas. I've taken my older tegu to the park to explore many times and I feel that it is my right. I've had the cops show up a few times, but all it takes is a little education on your part to the police and they understand that it's not a dangerous animal, and I actually had one seem very interested and I told him to order one from Bobby.

I think that it's our duty as herpetetoculturists do disban and destroy the stigmas that people have about reptiles, not to hide in our house in fear that someone will try and take them away, because some old lady got scared. To the lady who ran out of the vets office, she can royally kiss it. If one of my reptiles is sick, it's going to the vet, and I will be damned if someone is going to tell me otherwise.

ive never taken ryu to the vet not saying that i dont want too thou ^_^ might take him next summer to the flea market sounds fun.

apriliarufo i have nothing against it when you take your reptiles out Because i know you will do it in a responsible way. But in the cases that tux and clem discribed are different, i don't think you will walk your snake around all day when its freesing. and i don't think you will be taking a 14foot snake on the freeway cuse then ur just asking for problems.

Absolutely. We aren't going on the freeway, and if the weather is cold, no one's going out, but I love to setup a rabbit run in the sunny front yard to let the tegus bask and hunt while I do some wood work.

cool! i never thought of anything like that. i would actually do that myself from now if i had any reptile qualified for it.