Seanebones
10-24-02, 09:51 PM
Man hopes his snakes can slither past ban
He says pythons not a threat to public safety; appeal hearing set
10/25/2002
By HERB BOOTH / The Dallas Morning News
Duncanville resident Sean McDonnell is hoping the city says it's OK for Mr. Burnz, Sammy and Beth to return home.
Mr. Burnz is a 9-foot, 70-pound Burmese python. Sammy is a lighter-colored Burmese python that's about 7 feet long and weighs about 30 pounds. And Beth – the runt of the group at 4 feet and 6 pounds – is an albino Burmese python.
Mr. McDonnell has a Friday appeal hearing with the city's police chief, fire chief, city manager and animal control officers. The group could allow him to bring the snakes, which are temporarily being kept in Johnson County, back to his home. If Mr. McDonnell is rejected Friday, his appeal will be forwarded to the City Council. If council members reject his appeal, civil courts could be Mr. McDonnell's last alternative.
Mr. McDonnell recently moved to Duncanville from Arlington, which allowed the snakes. But Duncanville has an animal control ordinance that prohibits wild animals. Boas and pythons are specifically named.
So are lions, tigers and bears – oh, my – says Mr. McDonnell.
Jaguars, coyotes, wolves, apes, foxes, elephants and rhinoceroses also are on the banned list.
As is the binturong, an animal from Southeast Asia commonly called a bear cat in this country.
Mr. McDonnell said he understands the city's right to regulate what type of pet and how many pets residents have in Duncanville. However, he believes there ought to be an exception with his snakes. Mr. McDonnell has been interested in the reptiles for about 20 years.
"I've just always had an affinity for them," Mr. McDonnell said. "They remind me a lot of dinosaur days. They're just beautiful animals. I think it would be fair to give someone the opportunity to show them what you keep them in. I don't see any reason why a 4-foot ball python [that's about their maximum size] should be outlawed."
Affinity or not, the city outlaws them.
Duncanville police spokesman Keith Bilbrey said the aim of the ban on large snakes is to ensure public safety.
"Our goal is to protect citizens and make sure these reptiles or wild animals don't get out and hurt someone," Mr. Bilbrey said.
"I think it's fairly common for all the cities to have something like this."
DeSoto and Lancaster have no ordinance banning large snakes. Cedar Hill police Lt. Clark Stephenson said that city has a policy that enables a snake owner to apply for a special use permit.
Mr. Bilbrey also said Duncanville's ordinance is meant to protect public safety employees, such as firefighters in emergency situations who don't know what they may be grabbing in a thick cloud of smoke.
"A python or boa might feel like a leg or something," he said.
Mr. McDonnell said he isn't opposed to registering with the city. He said some North Texas cities require that a sign be posted near the entrance to a home that houses the large reptiles. "I know they have to be safe," he said. "But I've been handling these snakes for 20 years, and the cages I built are secure."
Steve Campbell, president of the Dallas-Fort Worth Herpetological Society, said he would trust Mr. McDonnell because of the Duncanville resident's level of experience.
"But a lot of people get these snakes as hatchlings from shows and don't realize that after three years, they're going to be about 9 feet long," he said. "This is not an uncommon problem. I think an inspection and permitting process is required. You don't want someone keeping a 9-foot snake in a 30-gallon aquarium with a couple of bricks on top."
Bonita Taylor, founder of Reptile's Opportunity for Preservation and Education, said she's been keeping reptiles for about eight years. She plans to address the issue at the Nov. 5 Duncanville council meeting.
"Honestly, most people who are afraid of snakes have some sort of childhood story about them," she said. "What we do is teach people about the snake's body language. You know when a dog is happy because he wags his tail. Snakes don't do that."
Ms. Taylor already has helped Mr. McDonnell – R.O.P.E. has adopted Mr. Burnz, Sammy and Beth until the Duncanville resident exhausts his appeals.
"I just hope I can get them back," Mr. McDonnell said.
E-mail hbooth@dallasnews.com
or call 214-977-7613.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Online at: http://www.dallasnews.com/localnews/city/southwest/stories/102502dnsousnakes.6ba03.html
A few of the qoutes are off, like the ball python size and I never said "oh my" but I think it might help. I go before an appeals committe tomorrow and I could use a few letters of support. Please post them here and I will print them out and take them with me to the appeal. Thank all of you for your support through this.
He says pythons not a threat to public safety; appeal hearing set
10/25/2002
By HERB BOOTH / The Dallas Morning News
Duncanville resident Sean McDonnell is hoping the city says it's OK for Mr. Burnz, Sammy and Beth to return home.
Mr. Burnz is a 9-foot, 70-pound Burmese python. Sammy is a lighter-colored Burmese python that's about 7 feet long and weighs about 30 pounds. And Beth – the runt of the group at 4 feet and 6 pounds – is an albino Burmese python.
Mr. McDonnell has a Friday appeal hearing with the city's police chief, fire chief, city manager and animal control officers. The group could allow him to bring the snakes, which are temporarily being kept in Johnson County, back to his home. If Mr. McDonnell is rejected Friday, his appeal will be forwarded to the City Council. If council members reject his appeal, civil courts could be Mr. McDonnell's last alternative.
Mr. McDonnell recently moved to Duncanville from Arlington, which allowed the snakes. But Duncanville has an animal control ordinance that prohibits wild animals. Boas and pythons are specifically named.
So are lions, tigers and bears – oh, my – says Mr. McDonnell.
Jaguars, coyotes, wolves, apes, foxes, elephants and rhinoceroses also are on the banned list.
As is the binturong, an animal from Southeast Asia commonly called a bear cat in this country.
Mr. McDonnell said he understands the city's right to regulate what type of pet and how many pets residents have in Duncanville. However, he believes there ought to be an exception with his snakes. Mr. McDonnell has been interested in the reptiles for about 20 years.
"I've just always had an affinity for them," Mr. McDonnell said. "They remind me a lot of dinosaur days. They're just beautiful animals. I think it would be fair to give someone the opportunity to show them what you keep them in. I don't see any reason why a 4-foot ball python [that's about their maximum size] should be outlawed."
Affinity or not, the city outlaws them.
Duncanville police spokesman Keith Bilbrey said the aim of the ban on large snakes is to ensure public safety.
"Our goal is to protect citizens and make sure these reptiles or wild animals don't get out and hurt someone," Mr. Bilbrey said.
"I think it's fairly common for all the cities to have something like this."
DeSoto and Lancaster have no ordinance banning large snakes. Cedar Hill police Lt. Clark Stephenson said that city has a policy that enables a snake owner to apply for a special use permit.
Mr. Bilbrey also said Duncanville's ordinance is meant to protect public safety employees, such as firefighters in emergency situations who don't know what they may be grabbing in a thick cloud of smoke.
"A python or boa might feel like a leg or something," he said.
Mr. McDonnell said he isn't opposed to registering with the city. He said some North Texas cities require that a sign be posted near the entrance to a home that houses the large reptiles. "I know they have to be safe," he said. "But I've been handling these snakes for 20 years, and the cages I built are secure."
Steve Campbell, president of the Dallas-Fort Worth Herpetological Society, said he would trust Mr. McDonnell because of the Duncanville resident's level of experience.
"But a lot of people get these snakes as hatchlings from shows and don't realize that after three years, they're going to be about 9 feet long," he said. "This is not an uncommon problem. I think an inspection and permitting process is required. You don't want someone keeping a 9-foot snake in a 30-gallon aquarium with a couple of bricks on top."
Bonita Taylor, founder of Reptile's Opportunity for Preservation and Education, said she's been keeping reptiles for about eight years. She plans to address the issue at the Nov. 5 Duncanville council meeting.
"Honestly, most people who are afraid of snakes have some sort of childhood story about them," she said. "What we do is teach people about the snake's body language. You know when a dog is happy because he wags his tail. Snakes don't do that."
Ms. Taylor already has helped Mr. McDonnell – R.O.P.E. has adopted Mr. Burnz, Sammy and Beth until the Duncanville resident exhausts his appeals.
"I just hope I can get them back," Mr. McDonnell said.
E-mail hbooth@dallasnews.com
or call 214-977-7613.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Online at: http://www.dallasnews.com/localnews/city/southwest/stories/102502dnsousnakes.6ba03.html
A few of the qoutes are off, like the ball python size and I never said "oh my" but I think it might help. I go before an appeals committe tomorrow and I could use a few letters of support. Please post them here and I will print them out and take them with me to the appeal. Thank all of you for your support through this.