Iowa Couple Cited For Illegal Snakes

Three boa constrictors and a federally protected reptile have been seized from a Dubuque home where authorities found hundreds of caged snakes, rats and mice.

William Shaffer and Linda Merfeld — the home’s occupants — are being investigated by federal and state officials and have already been fined by the city for allegedly breaking a municipal ordinance that prohibits dangerous pets.

Six animals were seized for evidence as state and federal officials investigate the case.

“We are determining what charges to possibly file,” said Wayne Buchholtz, a park ranger for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources

Authorities searched the home on Wednesday after receiving several complaints from neighbors about large snakes.

Authorities found approximately 350 snakes and 500 feeder mice and rats in the house, according to a Dubuque police report.

Buchholtz said all the snakes were caged, stored mostly in Tupperware containers poked with holes that were scattered around the house. The mice and rats, which were being bred and raised to feed the snakes, were stored in the basement.

Buchholtz, who was asked to help identify the animals, said he’d never seen so many snakes assembled at one home.

“I’ve seen that many in pet stores that do breeding,” he said. “But that’s normally in a business environment, not in a residence.”

Officials said they confiscated three baby rough-scaled sand boa constrictors, two milk snakes and one indigo snake, which is a threatened species. Those snakes were taken to Dubuque’s National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium.

The rest of the reptiles and rodents were left at the residence. Buchholtz said it is not illegal to possess that many animals.

“From the way they looked, they were all being taken care of and well fed,” he said.

Shaffer and Merfeld each face up to a $750 fine for possessing dangerous pets inside city limits, said Mary Rose Corrigan, public health specialist with the city of Dubuque. She said neighbors had complained of the snakes as early as last summer.

Link to Article

Here's an additional article on this story. Unbelievable that they confiscated sand boas as dangerous simply because they are a boa. This is a prime example of badly worded legislation passed by lawmakers who know absolutely nothing of the subject matter and have no interest in educating themselves.
Ignorance is one thing, willful ignorance is something else entirely.

Linda Merfeld and Bill Shaffer share their home - and their lives - with nearly 350 snakes. "It sounds like we've got stuff scattered all over the house and we don't. Everything is organized. The snakes all have heat, they're in little containers. They have heat tape to take care of them. We make sure that they're well fed, well taken care of," comments Merfeld...who is not related to Linda Merfeld from Finley Hospital's Nurses' Union.

However, after a complaint, state, and federal officials removed two milk snakes, one indigo snake, and three sand boas. The indigo is a protected snake, but Merfeld and Shaffer say they've already done the paperwork to legally own it. The milk snakes were caught on a farm in Wisconsin... and were taken away because city officials aren't sure whether it's legal to possess them in Iowa. As for the sand boas...they city says any snake in the "boidae" family is dangerous... and fined both owners $750 for violating the city ordinance against dangerous animals. Merfeld says her snake is not dangerous. "They're not constrictors. They're little, they're fat slugs probably about 12 inches big when they're adults," says Merfeld.

Merfeld and Shaffer say they're also angry the local paper used a photo of a boa constrictor in its coverage. "that picture in the paper was not our snake. We don't know where that boa came from, but it wasn't ours," complains Merfeld. The Telegraph-Herald says it chose the photo based on the information it received from the city.

The city won't say who complained about the snakes, but Merfeld and Shaffer suspect a reptile dealer they're suing is to blame. Right now the seized snakes are being cared for at the Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium. Still, it's hard for the animal lovers to handle. "It's kinda irritating when somebody says you're doing something you're not suppose to when you're not doing anything wrong," says Merfeld.

Merfeld and Shaffer say they'll be here in court on February 8th, fighting the citation from the city, and fighting to bring their snakes home.

Link

That is unbelievable. Exactly how they can abuse the intent of the law.

Good luck to them! im sure theyll get their animals back in due time.

So what is "the law" in Iowa that these people were breaking?

they city says any snake in the "boidae" family is dangerous... and fined both owners $750 for violating the city ordinance against dangerous animals.

Iowa has more breed-specific dog laws on the books than any other state...I wouldn't expect them to be any less ignorant about reptiles.

Oh, and in case anyone is intersted, the mayor of Dubuque's email address is:

rdbuol@cityofdubuque.org

Originally Posted by Cat_72

Oh, and in case anyone is intersted, the mayor of Dubuque's email address is:

rdbuol@cityofdubuque.org

Great information!! I will pass this on!!
I wish them luck getting all the snakes back home.
There are people out there abusing animals every day and they are going after a couple who, in there own words, are caring for these animals appropriately and they are all safe secure and well fed.....yeah, lock 'em up and throw away the key . Shame on them!! How dare they take such good care of their animals!!

Originally Posted by paulweaver

So what is "the law" in Iowa that these people were breaking?

It's not an Iowa law, it was their specific city law.

This is a shame.
This is exactly why I went to the extent I did in getting my home/ land zoned properly. I have officers that have brought their kids to my home to learn about the various reptiles I have.
The article said that the amount of animals is not an issue but were trying to figure out what to cite them with.
I hope these people get their snakes back as it is not a case of not taking care of them.
Thanks for the link Cat, maybe have to just fire off a letter myself.