Kids Put in Foster Home

[Georgia]

Kids put in foster home today by DCFS today. They say bc of snakes being venomous.

[EL Ziggy]

No way Georgia! I thought as long as your snakes were in escape proof cages, in their own room and labeled as venomous you wouldn't have any issues. That sucks big time. What are you going to do?

[Georgia]

Yes way. Master locked custom cages with polycarb glass.

[EL Ziggy]

Man I'm so sorry to hear that. Best wishes brother. How did they find out?

[Georgia]

A "friend" called them. Im in my legal right to own what i have.

[Georgia]

Its absolutely unreal how these people are

[SnoopySnake]

Wow, that's ridiculous.. I'm sorry to hear that and can't imagine how you must feel :( What are you planning on doing about it?

[EL Ziggy]

A "friend" called them. Im in my legal right to own what i have.

Some "friend". Who needs enemies with friends like that?

[Georgia]

Im looking to press charges and sue the **** out of them.

[Georgia]

The audacity of these ppl when it comes to reptiles is amazing

[David VB]

Damn... Let's put this 'friend' in one of those cages and tell him to try to escape!!!

[aaron_cg]

**** man, that's horrible.

As an alternative, have you thought about someone homing your snakes, while you fight it. Then, fight to have your snakes in the house with your kids? May show some initiative with the courts, and judges love people that try to solve there own problems.

Then later you can go after child services for defamation of character, etc..

[Georgia]

Yeah thats something im looking into. Its just a food idea to find the RIGHT person thats trustworthy.

[sgtsnake]

Maybe instead of plotting to sue the **** out of then you should get your kids back

[Jim Smith]

I strongly suggest that you remove the snakes and get your children back into your home now. You do not want to start a fight with DCFS as they do not play by the same rules. You will not win and the children will certainly be negatively affected. Whether it's fair or not, always keep your family first. You can always sort things out later about keeping hots with children in the house, but right now your priority must be for your children. Good luck and please keep us posted.

[aaron_cg]

What Jim said. I am a child of divorce, and when cps got involved (mom claimed abuse, that wasn't there) things when down hill. They basically play by there own rules and will drag your name through the dirt. Don't give them a reason to.

Personally, I would put the phone on speaker and record every conversation, print every email, including your responses, and screen capture any texting that may happen.

[smy_749]

If someone tried to take my son....I'd have the snakes removed before they could blink an eye. I'd throw them out the window if I had to, and my collection is worth 7 gs. Get your kids back now, there will always be more snakes.

[Pareeeee]

This is HORRIBLE!

Looks like this whole thing is completely uncalled for. These types of organizations do this sort of things to innocent people way too often IMO. I could understand if you were keeping rattlers in tubs under your kids' beds or something, but it sounds like you were keeping your hots in a responsible way.

So many reptile-hating people in law enforcement prey on people's ignorance of the laws, spouting so called "laws" that don't even exist.

I would find someone who can temporarily take care of your animals until you can get this whole thing straightened out.

[Pareeeee]

Also!!! Try contacting United States Association of Reptile Keepers (http://usark.org/) - maybe they could help you fight this.

[StudentoReptile]

As I understand it, in GA, one has to have permits to keep venomous snakes (or perhaps only non-native), correct? I could be wrong on that.

If you have proper permits and documentation for what you owe, and everything is proper secure housing, I (and everyone on the board) is in agreeance that this is stupid, and there is no reason for someone to take your children away.

However, if GA is like AL, and there is no law or standards of housing about keeping indigenous hots (other then simply stating that it is permissible to keep them), then I would say you are somewhat in a bind. Yes, you are within the law in keeping the snakes, but child services will think what they will and make decisions based on their fears & opinions, and as long as there are venomous snakes in the residence, even if they are in a steel box with chains and padlocks, it would not matter.

As others have stated, getting your children are your number one priority. I would think the decision is a no-brainer as of what to do with the snakes, and if you had them removed immediately, it would send a very clear message to the child services.

There will always be a chance to sort getting more snakes later and how to circumvent such an incident in the future.
---
I can pretty much say USARK would be of little assistance in a matter like this. This is not some city ordinance or state law trying to infringe on possessing one's ability to keep snakes. It is about an issue of child welfare because of "potentially" dangerous animals involved. USARK can't fight that battle.

[Georgia]

State law says that it is 100% legal to own native venomous snakes. Im fighting 2 battles here. Seeking legal representation as well.

[Pareeeee]

This whole situation both infuriates and saddens me. I can't imagine what you're going through right now.

Wishing you all the best of luck.

[sharthun]

Wow! Good luck! I agree, family comes first.

[jim293]

I strongly suggest that you remove the snakes and get your children back into your home now. You do not want to start a fight with DCFS as they do not play by the same rules. You will not win and the children will certainly be negatively affected. Whether it's fair or not, always keep your family first. You can always sort things out later about keeping hots with children in the house, but right now your priority must be for your children. Good luck and please keep us posted.

I have to agree with Jim here. Your kids are worth a lot more then those snakes. Those people can make your life a living hell. Sorry to hear that.

[franks]

I'm so sorry Georgia. That's pretty messed up. I agree with getting rid of the snakes for now. There are no checks and balances with these people and they are pretty powerful. I've seen parents almost lose their kids because of a kid falling of her bike. Go overboard on this buddy. Fight your battle after your kids are home. Best wishes man. I feel for you.

[Georgia]

Update...

Went to court monday. Judge laughed at the DFCS worker. He asked if she saw the snakes...she said Yes. He asked if the cages were locked...she said Yes. He asked what the big deal was and shook his head.

[Georgia]

Furthermore, he said i was within my legal right to own my snakes and wants pictures of my cages lol

[franks]

Awesome! You get your kids back in yet?

[aaron_cg]

Wonderful news indeed. Congrats on the first victory.

As someone who has dealt with CPS (our version of DFCS), they are like a jealous ex. They'll do everything they can to make you look bad. So, just watch out for the future, and don't give them a reason to beat you.

[Georgia]

No. Sending them out of state so we can relocate and not deal with these people anymore.

[millertime89]

That's good news at least. F&*%*(g DFCS/CPS whatever.