More bad Press!!! In the Chicago area too, great timing.

[Ed_r]

Snake takes a joy ride in S. Elgin
By Tom O'Konowitz Daily Herald Staff Writer

A plumber by trade, Steve Beard of South Elgin knows how to put a snake to work.

This week, however, Beard was flushed with surprise when he found a 6-foot-long boa constrictor hiding under the hood of his work van.

Beard, owner of South Elgin's Freedom Plumbing and Heating, made the discovery Monday evening at his house on the village's west side. As he'd later learn, the boa had been hiding in his van since Saturday morning.

"It's alarming to see it at first, but it's amazing how it hung in there that long," Beard said. "And why would it hang in there for two days next to a radiator that's 200 degrees?"

Beard had been doing plumbing work Saturday morning at a Park Avenue house, on South Elgin's east side, when he heard a neighbor's snake had gotten loose. Not realizing the snake had slithered into his vehicle, Beard put a lot of miles on his van in the next few days with the discreet visitor on board.

Sunday morning, he drove to and from his grandmother's place in Poplar Grove, about 45 miles away, and Monday he went to a job in Maple Park, about 21 miles away.

When he finally returned home Monday night, he saw something hanging down underneath his van and quickly figured out he was staring at the snake that had gotten loose days earlier on the other side of town.

"I was surprised knowing all the places I had been that it was still there," Beard said.

South Elgin police went to Beard's house to help him get the snake out but found it wasn't that easy. The strong snake didn't seem to want to loosen its grip and leave the van, police said.

Ultimately, officers used pepper spray to daze the serpent and remove it. The snake survived the entire ordeal and was returned to its owner.

No tickets were issued to the owner for letting his snake get loose, and that prompted Beard to suggest the South Elgin village board consider enacting stricter laws to penalize pet owners who don't keep them restrained.

"You start thinking about all the safety issues," Beard said. "What if it got to someone's baby? Being a boa constrictor, it could crush someone."

The snake's owner could not be reached for comment.



Then we wonder where these reptile bans originate from?

[Delighted2b]

Oh geeeez.... This is getting worse and worse....

Danielle

[Samba]

The thing skeptics need to keep in mind, as with most controversial subjects, is that this is the exception, not the norm. The fact the snake survived this ordeal is highly admirable. There should be fines for pet owners, no matter the pet, for allowing their animals to escape. We, as reptile owners, need to be especially careful because we already know our love for the cold-blooded isn't shared by everyone. I'm proud to say that the only creature to ever escape my house was my dog, and she had a hellava time too!

[lordkovacs]

i have no idea what some people are thinking. you would think a 6ft boa would be somewhat easy to keep your eyes on. jeez. it's not like a 4 month old corn... now they're sneaky!
cheers,
MIKE

[The_Omen]

Taking advice for laws from one that shows 'crack' all day???

Yet people blame a baby when it gets bit by a pit bull...

[SCReptiles]

Taking advice for laws from one that shows 'crack' all day???
And you have done so much in your professional career that you can set around and cast insults at a plumber. What if he came down and insulted you at your job while you were trying to make some French fries? Would like that? And the crack shower was absolutely right. We need to be more strict on people who let snakes go. It’s people like that who are getting all these new laws passed. We can not keep venomous snakes in TN anymore because an idiot let some cobras loose a few years ago. AL lost the right to keep exotic venomous after a high profile escape. And this story hits the head lines as the city debates the complete banning of snakes? And you criticize a point of view saying we need to be stricter on people who let them escape? Why don’t you just get a kitten and leave snakes to the grown ups.

[BWSmith]

And you criticize a point of view saying we need to be stricter on people who let them escape? Why don’t you just get a kitten and leave snakes to the grown ups.

huh?



you would think a 6ft boa would be somewhat easy to keep your eyes on.

I think you would be VERY suprised how sneaky they are and how many places they can squeeze into.

[SCReptiles]

huh?
Every time this guy opens his mouth, a river or ignorance flows out. He was ridiculing this plumber from Chicago who said we need to enact stricter laws on people who let snakes escape, when the plumber was 100% in the right.

[Ed_r]

Yet another nice post from SCreptiles.
A little pot calling the kettle black here don't ya think?

when he heard a neighbor's snake had gotten loose. OK the crack showing plummer knew of the snakes escape from the neighbor. But yet calls the police to make a major scene about it.
Why not just contact the neighbor and have him get the snake, instead of having the Keystone Cops, use pepper spray on a snake.

The keeper is wrong for letting the snake escape. Yes stricter measures should be taken on escapees.

I really don't see it necessary to SLAM another individual on here, on a post about something totally different.
You need to chill out and drop the attitude bud. Couple old sayings can be words to live by.
"If you can't say something Nice, Don't say anything at all!" and
"Let he who is without sin cast the First Stone!" Think about it!

[daver676]

I love my snake, but I think there does need to be stricter laws against irresponsible owners. Just my $0.02.

Dave

[SCReptiles]

OK the crack showing plummer knew of the snakes escape from the neighbor. But yet calls the police to make a major scene about it.
What is a plummer? Is that like a guy who picks plums maybe? Anyway, the general public fears snakes and we have a responsibility to protect them from contact with ours. He called the police because he was scared. Interesting that you chose to side against me here. This incident will probably be the straw that takes your right to keep away.

[Ed_r]

Much like they did in TN. But as we all know bans don't stop people from keeping.

And when you make a valid point instead of tearing into others for your own personal gain, I will side against you. It's not necessary.

My point with saying the plum(b)er could have just been cool about it. Since he knew the person that lost it. Sounds like he just wanted to get his 15 minutes of fame, and a free round or 2 of beers at the local pub for telling his story.

[Delighted2b]

Who says that us women don't like to see cracks!! LOL I think that people just need to be more responsible. Period.

Danielle

[Ed_r]

I do have to say . The Original Point of this post WAS at how STUPID the snake owner is for letting this happen, and secondary how everyone reacted to it. Sorry if it came accross differently

[eyespy]

Originally posted by Samba
The thing skeptics need to keep in mind, as with most controversial subjects, is that this is the exception, not the norm. The fact the snake survived this ordeal is highly admirable. There should be fines for pet owners, no matter the pet, for allowing their animals to escape. We, as reptile owners, need to be especially careful because we already know our love for the cold-blooded isn't shared by everyone. I'm proud to say that the only creature to ever escape my house was my dog, and she had a hellava time too!

While that's an excellent point, I doubt you'd get public officials to agree, especially those who hold an elective office. More voters agree with bans on reptiles than fight against them in any poll I've ever read. :(

[Mike177]

No tickets were issued to the owner for letting his snake get loose, and that prompted Beard to suggest the South Elgin village board consider enacting stricter laws to penalize pet owners who don't keep them restrained.

i can agree 100% with that! if cities have problem with snakes getting lose they should punish the owner insted of just completely banning an entire family of snakes. on another point how did this snake get out of his house? or even out of the room the snake was in? it seems like it would be pretty hard for a 6 foot bci (or bcc) to slide under a door crack??? this escape could have been easly prevented but hey, we are all human and we will all make mistakes some of use might not make as big of mistakes as others but a mistake is a mistake none the less.

[Mike177]

Ultimately, officers used pepper spray to daze the serpent and remove it.

i am not shure what is in pepper spray but could that cause any long term damage???

[Samba]

Wow, this turned into quite an interesting debate! I wanted to share the story of my snake, Bandula, and how I came to own him.

For those of you who don't know, I run Samba's Reptile Rescue in New Mexico. One day I received a call from a woman who had found a large snake near the UNM campus, and she was afraid that it had escaped from a student's dorm room. She bravely caught this (thankfully docile) creature and called me to come pick him up. Unfortunately, in trying to find someone to pick him up, she'd called the Humane Society as well. They came to investigate shortly after I arrived and they wanted to remove this beautiful, innocent, tame and outgoing animal so that it could be euthanized. This snake wasn't even going to get the CHANCE to be claimed by his owner, or find a new home. I talked them into letting me take this gorgeous burmese python with the intent of finding him a home with someone who was experienced and who could house such an animal. I fell in love with this animal, and I feel pity for the previous owner because they did lose a uniquly personable pet. (He's MINE now!!!!) ::evil grin:: J/K

It has been speculated that the python escaped from his enclosure, or was set free by the owner.... In either case the owner would seem neglectful and undeserving of such a pet. Had Bandula, (as I later named him), been an aggressive or fearful animal he might have easily hurt or even killed someone. (At the time of his 'capture' he was 9 feet in length). This is the reason why we should lobby for bans on 'unapproved' reptile owners. Reptiles themselves make great pets, and aren't the problems... the owners are. I agree with Chuck 100% in that it is our responsibility to make sure that no one comes into contact with our animals if they do not wish. Stricter laws should been in place regarding WHO can own reptiles, not WHAT reptiles are deemed 'okay.' Stories like Bandula's terrify people and makes it hard for 'legit' reptile keepers to enjoy their companions of choice.

[Samba]

Mike177 - It can cause both temporary and permenant blindness, respitory and skin irritation in humans. I am not sure of what effects they would have on a snake, but just the same, this measure seems much too extreme in the circumstances provided.

[Invictus]

The thing that infuriated me about the article was the fact that the plumber insinuated that if this snake got near a baby, it would kill the baby. It's this kind of ignorance that is getting herps banned from cities.

But, I agree... I would rather have tougher penalties for irresponsible owners rather than a complete ban for those of us who ARE responsible owners.

[RaVeNo888o]

i agree about what they said about "enacting stricter laws to penalize pet owners who don't keep them restrained"
That makes sense to me..you let them get out, you get penalized, much better than banning all herps to begin with

[SCReptiles]

And when you make a valid point instead of tearing into others for your own personal gain, I will side against you. It's not necessary.
In between his shifts at burger world, Omen made things personal between him and I. He was willing to dish it out, now he has to be willing to take it. The kid means nothing to me, I do not research him, but when I happen across something ignorant that he has spouted out, I will follow up on it. And need I remind you, I followed up here because he was casting dispersions on a man who was in the right and works an honorable profession. I am fairly certain there are some plumbers on this site. I think you should also side with the plumber here. The man spoke the truth. I support you in your struggle against the government up there; I have even emailed the city officials. You defiantly didn’t need this right now. “What if it had gotten to someone’s baby?” Remember that quote, it’s going to haunt you. The democrat battle cry “DO IT FOR THE CHILDREN!!!”

[SCReptiles]

The thing that infuriated me about the article was the fact that the plumber insinuated that if this snake got near a baby, it would kill the baby.
Yeah, it sucks that that statement made it into print. It will come up when the hearing on the ban is held, I assure you of that. The plumber is not a snake keeper and I am sure he thinks that snake would kill a baby. That is why WE have the responsibility to keep our snakes out of his environment. Bear in mind, if the snake had not been in his van, he would not have been quoted in the news.

[Ed_r]

Yes i realize that will be the battle cry.
All Im saying is why not just attack someone in PM. Why bring it out in a public foum, to try and belittle someone?

Nothing against a plumber. Everyone knows about plumbers. its a joke even among plumbers. EVERYONE calls it a Plumbers Crack... BIG DEAL!!!
You have a reputation for having to make everyone look to be dumber than you or that you are better than everyone. Like calling a well respected keeper a drunk. Only reason you retracted it was because he had passed on. Plese try to stick with the actual topic and not to take shots at everyone that disagrees with you. Quite frankly your not that good at it.

[The_Omen]

Wow.. It's amazing that Chuck wants new laws enacted.
I guess it would merely be more for Chuck to break and to tell others to break. I find it funny that you say yes to new laws yet tell people to break them.

From the Hawaii thread. (http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=19215&highlight=Hawaii)

Yep, I say go underground. Venomous snakes are illegal in TN, luckily I can keep mine in GA, but I know plenty of people in this state with venomous. You can have your friends fed ex them to you the day after you move in and order all the food you need from Rodentpro.com. I am sure he will unmark the box for you if you tell him your situation. I bet there are under ground keepers all over the island. Best of luck to you.

Glad to see you quickly resorted to name calling yet again, Chuck.
Done like a good democrat. ;)


I sense that you dislike me, Chuck...

[SCReptiles]

And quite frankly, even though you do not drive a race car, I still think you are a pole sitter.

[SCReptiles]

Sure I dislike you. What is there to like? Either way I am sure you are used to it. I have no problem with laws that hold keepers accountable. I have problems with outright bans and I am on record as such. If they ban in Chicago, then I will say go underground there. But if they enact laws that keep herpers accountable, I will support that.

[Ed_r]

I still think you are a pole sitter.

Like I said, your really not that good at it. Can't have an inteligent disussion without name calling. Name calling usually stops by the 4th or 5th grade. What will I be called next? a Poopyhead?
Grow up!

[SCReptiles]

I would have no trouble lighting you up, but I will end up with banned under my name, and I wouldn’t be benefited in that now would I. I will continue to follow on any ignorance that you two spout out, and if I get banned for that then so be it. That is the nature of a public forum.

[Matt_K]

Chuck, i suggest reading your private messages, and if you have read it, read it again.. Thread closed..