Clay Davenport
12-07-2004, 12:03 AM
Follow the link to the story. On the left there is a poll asking whether people should be allowed to own exotic pets. Currently it is overwhelmingly no, so you guys may want to cast a vote.
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CANTON, Mich. -- A poisonous snake bite sent a Canton man to the hospital Sunday. The man could now face charges.
Rudolph Hatfield, 51, was bitten by one of his pets, a South American Bushmaster snake, according to Local 4 reports. The venomous snake was one of about 50 snakes the man kept in his home on Brighton Lane.
"Some of them are small. Some of them are large. Up to probably 6, 7, 8 feet," said Canton police Sgt. Rick Pomorski.
Reptile experts from the Detroit Zoo and Canton police searched Hatfield's home and eventually captured the 9-foot Bushmaster. It was taken to the Detroit Zoo for safekeeping.
Police said they found more than 50 venomous snakes housed in cages in an upstairs bedroom. The other snakes were kept in their cages and secured in the room pending future court proceedings, police said.
There are no federal or state laws against keeping snakes, but the reptiles are illegal in Canton, Local 4 reported.
"We have a local ordinance that prohibits the possession of venomous or poisonous reptiles," said Pomorski.
A reptile expert said aside from the ordinance, keeping a venomous snake as a pet is not a good idea.
"It just astounds us when we get calls like this," said Scott Carter of the Detroit Zoo.
The man was given some anti-venum provided by the Detroit Zoo. He was transported to St. Mary's hospital in Livonia by Canton EMS, and was later transferred to Detroit Receiving Hospital where he was listed in serious condition. He is expected to fully recover, Local 4 reported.
Canton police said the possession of venomous snakes is a serious public safety concern and they will prosecute the owner to the fullest extent of the law. The department is expected to bring the issue to court as soon as possible, and move to seize and destroy any animal or reptile that is considered vicious.
Link (http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/3973390/detail.html)
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CANTON, Mich. -- A poisonous snake bite sent a Canton man to the hospital Sunday. The man could now face charges.
Rudolph Hatfield, 51, was bitten by one of his pets, a South American Bushmaster snake, according to Local 4 reports. The venomous snake was one of about 50 snakes the man kept in his home on Brighton Lane.
"Some of them are small. Some of them are large. Up to probably 6, 7, 8 feet," said Canton police Sgt. Rick Pomorski.
Reptile experts from the Detroit Zoo and Canton police searched Hatfield's home and eventually captured the 9-foot Bushmaster. It was taken to the Detroit Zoo for safekeeping.
Police said they found more than 50 venomous snakes housed in cages in an upstairs bedroom. The other snakes were kept in their cages and secured in the room pending future court proceedings, police said.
There are no federal or state laws against keeping snakes, but the reptiles are illegal in Canton, Local 4 reported.
"We have a local ordinance that prohibits the possession of venomous or poisonous reptiles," said Pomorski.
A reptile expert said aside from the ordinance, keeping a venomous snake as a pet is not a good idea.
"It just astounds us when we get calls like this," said Scott Carter of the Detroit Zoo.
The man was given some anti-venum provided by the Detroit Zoo. He was transported to St. Mary's hospital in Livonia by Canton EMS, and was later transferred to Detroit Receiving Hospital where he was listed in serious condition. He is expected to fully recover, Local 4 reported.
Canton police said the possession of venomous snakes is a serious public safety concern and they will prosecute the owner to the fullest extent of the law. The department is expected to bring the issue to court as soon as possible, and move to seize and destroy any animal or reptile that is considered vicious.
Link (http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/3973390/detail.html)