Detroit - Canton Man Bitten By Snake Could Face Charges

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

Here's another news story about the same incident with a little additional information.
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CANTON TOWNSHIP - Police discovered a deadly batch of 53 poisonous snakes in a home Sunday after their owner was bitten by one of them.

The 51-year-old owner of the snakes was in stable condition Sunday night at Detroit Receiving Hospital.

Canton Police Sgt. Rick Pomorski said keeping such snakes is not only against the law but also is dangerous to the public and the owner, who lived alone in the 2-year-old home near Sheldon and Palmer.

"Canton police view possession of venomous snakes as a serious public safety concern and will prosecute the owner to the fullest extent of the law," he said.

The incident began shortly before 9 p.m. Saturday in the home in the 3900 block of Brighton, when the 9-foot Bushmaster, which is native to rainforests of Central and South America, bit its owner while he was attempting to clean its cage.

He told police he put the snake into its cage and was driving to his daughter's house to help him to get medical treatment when he lost control of his vehicle and went into a ditch.

When he told officers he had been bitten by a Bushmaster, they rushed him to St. Mary's Hospital in Livonia and contacted the Detroit Zoo for an anidote, police said. He later was transferred to Detroit Receiving Hospital.

He told hospital officials about the other snakes and they notified police, said Canton Sgt. David Schreiner.

Schreiner said officers and a Detroit Zoo staffer Sunday went to the man's home and retrieved the caged Bushmaster, which was taken to the zoo. The other 52 snakes and four spiders found in the home were left in their cages because the zoo official did not have the means or equipment to transport them.

"We secured and locked up the house," Schreiner said. He said the man described himself as a collector of exotic snakes.

The man's collection of snakes is valued between $30,000 and $40,000, Schreiner said.

Link

Every one needs to go to that site and vote yes. So far it's:

Votes Percentage of 2707 Votes
Yes. It is a matter of choice. 428 16%
No. It can endanger others. 2279 84%

is for exotic pets? or venomous pets?

Originally Posted by Vince

is for exotic pets? or venomous pets?

Is it for exotic pets? Or venomous?

The poll said exotic pets, not specifically venomous.
I bet 99% of the people who voted to ban exotic pets have no idea what exotic means. Their hamster could be banned right along with snakes.

and im sure at least 50% wouldnt ban exotic pets in gen. but would vote to ban deadly venomous snakes.

You're right about the venomous snakes and the general public but venomous snakes were already illegal in that town.
What I'm saying is that the general public has no idea that a hamster or a parakeet is an exotic pet.