This is sick! Python breeder arrested in California

[CosmicOwl]

Stories like this make me hesitant to ever breed. It sounds like a cop out, but sometimes things get out of control and you're sitting around wondering where a year went. Nobody is immune to being overwhelmed.

[Terranaut]

The only excuse would be if the owner himself died and left a collection unattended.

[robertjnovak59]

My dad worked with a guy who was taking care of his elderly mother. I guess she was dead for 8 or 9 years before anyone found out. She died in her bed and the guy went on as if she were still alive. I don't know how you could live in a house with the stench of death always present.

[Terranaut]

Originally Posted by robertjnovak59

My dad worked with a guy who was taking care of his elderly mother. I guess she was dead for 8 or 9 years before anyone found out. She died in her bed and the guy went on as if she were still alive. I don't know how you could live in a house with the stench of death always present.

They made a movie about this....Psycho.
we are talking about Norman Bates right ?

[robertjnovak59]

Originally Posted by Terranaut

They made a movie about this....Psycho.
we are talking about Norman Bates right ?

So you've heard about it? Lol. He didn't kill her, she died of natural causes, he just didn't want to let her go. No one suspected anything. She died and he went on as if nothing happened.

[Pareeeee]

So sad. Both for the animals and the owner.

There's no excuse for animal cruelty but this person obviously had some mental distress. Sometimes a tragedy like losing a close loved-one can cause someone to snap, and the symptoms can mirror those of an actual mental illness.

[psychocircus]

I agree^
If this person was right-minded, even if he was ruthless to the animals would at least dispose of the animals.

My cousin posted this earlier. It is a shame to see, but good to see people considering snakes/reptiles in animal abuse cases.

[lisas]

Who knows what was going on in his mind? Sounds like he snapped completely. I feel for all of those animals and I feel for him too. What an awful tragedy all-around. Grief is a hard thing - I'm still grieving for my skink, Daru, who I lost 6 months ago and still feel that I should have done things differently in his care, before and after his illness. This has been hard but we all have to struggle against our demons so that we can be better for those in our lives, both people and our animals. I wish he had gotten the help that he needed.

[formica]

there is a difference between abuse and neglect, abuse is intentional, neglect is not necessarily intentional - refusing the differentiate does not help any animals live better lives, nor does it encourage people to seek help when they need it.

[Terranaut]

Originally Posted by formica

there is a difference between abuse and neglect, abuse is intentional, neglect is not necessarily intentional - refusing the differentiate does not help any animals live better lives, nor does it encourage people to seek help when they need it.

Nor does it change the fact that these animals suffered horribly before death. No excuses will ever change that. Nothing will make this ok. No doctor will remove this from the news. No story will un tarnish the reputations of us all based on this.

[CosmicOwl]

Originally Posted by Terranaut

Nor does it change the fact that these animals suffered horribly before death. No excuses will ever change that. Nothing will make this ok. No doctor will remove this from the news. No story will un tarnish the reputations of us all based on this.

This is going to keep happening until the community decides to moves away from rack systems and massive breeding operations.

[psychocircus]

Originally Posted by CosmicOwl

This is going to keep happening until the community decides to moves away from rack systems and massive breeding operations.

kind of a catch 22.
These types of breeding operations have made the hobby much more popular. While this has its downfalls, it also means that more people are fighting for the rights of hobbyists and also means less wild caught animals are being brought in.

[CosmicOwl]

Originally Posted by psychocircus

kind of a catch 22.
These types of breeding operations have made the hobby much more popular. While this has its downfalls, it also means that more people are fighting for the rights of hobbyists and also means less wild caught animals are being brought in.

It seems like most of the snakes being bred in these conditions are the sort of animals that are already flooding the market. Ball Pythons, corn snakes etc. Which is why we have so many people filling craigslist with snakes that they can't care for or no longer want. Not to mention, the demand for new and interesting morphs means that plenty of snakes are still being pulled out of the wild.

Either way, the problem isn't really with huge breeders though. A lot of them take really good care of their product, and make sure everything is healthy. The fact that breeding setups are so easy to imitate, is what ends up causing situations like this one. How many people do you know who have 20 dogs or cats? Such a number isn't even remotely high in the reptile community. It seems like rack systems and large numbers of snakes are becoming the norm. Every so often, we're going to hear about somebody who has a couple hundred snakes and ending neglecting them.

[formica]

Originally Posted by Terranaut

Nor does it change the fact that these animals suffered horribly before death. No excuses will ever change that. Nothing will make this ok. No doctor will remove this from the news. No story will un tarnish the reputations of us all based on this.

what do you mean ''excuses''? people do not have to make excuses for being ill.

no one said it was ok, but that does not mean it was his fault or that he deserves to be demonized for it.

[Terranaut]

Originally Posted by formica

what do you mean ''excuses''? people do not have to make excuses for being ill.

no one said it was ok, but that does not mean it was his fault or that he deserves to be demonized for it.

Your assuming mental illness I am assuming apathy or lack of funds. I never once said anything against mental illness. Get your facts straight. Show me where a doctor has diagnosed this guy as mentally ill..... just because another user said he wasn't right is not mental illness. Ever considered they guy just messed up? Apparently thinking that way would be crazy