Info Courtney & George Schertler - Retic Owners Watch Puppy Being Eaten and Posts Pics

[ShadowAceD]

I suggest everyone, including Ben watch this news clip:

http://www.theonion.com/video/boys-tragic-death-could-have-happened-to-any-famil,17024/


A little boy was crushed and eaten by a families 300 pound python..... the parents said:

" there were NO warning signs"

thats like letting your kid play near a loaded pistol IMO, then telling authorities, you thought the child wasnt capable of pulling the trigger..... dogs may not be the top of the food chain, but its clear, the point is... owning a huge snake takes GREAT responsibility and attention... if there is something in the house small enough to fit in its mouth, it should not be intermingling with it UNLESS your intent is to feed IT.... example: letting your dog stand on a boa for "photos" THAT... just THAT shows great irresponsibility! having a baby child "pose" with a 300# burmese is pretty dumb too!

Seriously? That's a "report" from the Onion. It is a parody, not real.

 

[Celtic Constrictors]

Kevin,

The onion is a faux or fake news site. I see where you were going with this but I don't put validity into any article on that site.

 

[JCCS]

You beat me to it, Diem! You always spoil all my fun, lmao!!!!

 

[ShadowAceD]

Stuff like this is really just not helping.

Pay attention to what you read/watch, people.

 

[kanozig]

yea, I def. lost credibility points on that.... dang!


but there are plenty of examples identical to this one... like....

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/t/story?id=7986040&page=1

 

[kanozig]

there is a few cases of this... I think my point is pretty clear... it DOES happen, it can happen... it could have been a child in place where that puppy was.... a 20 something foot retic could give me a hell of a time, I am 6' 220... snakes are unpredicable....

 

[ShadowAceD]

The point I am making, Kevin, is you're perpetuating the same crap that is unsubstantiated that caused Lacey Act additions and local bans to begin with.

That python did NOT kill that kid, it was the scapegoat for it and the catalyst by which the whole crusade really started going.

The only thing relevant from it is that the irresponsibility of those owners made it very easy to place blame on that animal to a point that people believe it which is the primary reason people like Courtney and George should not be owning these animals.

 

[kanozig]

so you are trying to tell me snakes eating humans is something I fabricated all in my head?!?

 

[kanozig]

I currently own zero snakes, I have owned adult retics, I know people who own large snakes who feed piglets, ferral cats, etc....

I am saying, there is a serious problem with owning a 20 foot snake and being irresponsible with it....

where in that statement do you disagree?

 

[Michael Brown]

so you are trying to tell me snakes eating humans is something I fabricated all in my head?!?

No,

She is trying to stay on point. Your original link to the onion fake news is proof that people will go to great lengths to ruin the general public's opinion on large constrictors. (I recognize it was a mistake no worries)

Diem, as well as this forum, know that a large enough constrictor can kill a child - adult depending on size. That is not what she was getting frustrated with. Your statement is relevant to the topic in the sense that today it was a dog, tomorrow could it be a neighborhood toddler?

I of course have no idea if you looked into that 911 call about the snake killing that toddler, but it was a 100% scapegoat for the irresponsible owners who kept a large constrictor in a cage secured by a blanket as a top (Yes just a blanket). Investigators were never able to prove the snake did the killing (from what I understand).

Its going to get to the point that law makers say "screw it" no exotics, no reptiles at all. Am I the only one that has noticed the laws against reptiles have only gotten worse. I cannot think of any laws that were passed recently giving us more rights when it comes to owning reptile. Individuals like this women, are exactly what we want to avoid. Being unable to recognize the apparent danger (or not caring) of having a 2 pound Chihuahua on the back of a boa constrictor REALLY makes me question whether or not she can be trusted with children around her larger retic. If her retic decides to grab her child will she say "Well I didn't want to take it away from it" , "At that point she was already dead", "Bad luck for you kid", "It's my child, I'll do what I want".

It gets to a point of ridiculousness. Ignorance can only be tolerated so much, and at some point I wish snake owners were required to pass an IQ test annually.

 

[Shadera]

No,

She is trying to stay on point. Your original link to the onion fake news is proof that people will go to great lengths to ruin the general public's opinion on large constrictors. (I recognize it was a mistake no worries)


I of course have no idea if you looked into that 911 call about the snake killing that toddler, but it was a 100% scapegoat for the irresponsible owners who kept a large constrictor in a cage secured by a blanket as a top (Yes just a blanket). Investigators were never able to prove the snake did the killing (from what I understand).

I'm kind of ashamed that a snake keeper didn't immediately catch that bad photochop job and posted it to back an argument as proof that these animals hunt and kill humans. It's not even all one species.

The parents of the child "allegedly" killed by the burmese were later arrested for hardcore drugs in a separate incident. Very upstanding members of the herp community. That burm was definitely a scapegoat for something more twisted.

Regarding the issue at hand - it's bad enough that the dog and snake were allowed to be so close to one another without proper supervision, but to actually take and post pictures of it on a social media site is reprehensible. These are the sort of people who give the rest of us who work hard to take good care of our animals and educate the general public a bad name. Thank you, Diem, for putting it out there for those of us who would have missed it otherwise. Hopefully the next time someone is getting ready to give them a puppy or kitten, they do a quick search for their name just to see what pops up.

 

[Yogi Bear]

Really? Because If I reread this thread, I think I'll only find maybe two or three posters that deviated from that mantra out of thirty people that have posted.

If you are looking for 100%, I think you will be hard-pressed to find it on any topic. On this particular topic the majority seem to agree with your positions so I'm kind of baffled how that has a impact on the view competency of the majority posters. Most agree with your statements.

Also, I really think only one, user here may fit the definition of your post. As for the other(s) I think they were talking in generalizations how cats and dogs are elevated to a higher standard than other animals. Not that what this couple did was OK but differences in the public perception. It appeared it was more to the general topic then this situation.

I think it's obvious this couple doesn't value or use the term "pet" as you or I would.

I don't think anyone here has argued they take great care of their animals or pets, that their husbandry is great, that they were wise to post it on facebook, that they should feed puppies to their snake or every wildlife they could get their hands on. Accept for new poster that stated "leave them alone" I could understand the general points they were making while not condoning what happened.


So let me go ahead and add my personal opinion on the topic.

If it were a accident as they claim. It doesn't matter if it was a puppy, a pet rabbit or any another animal. Their husbandry and procedures suck. They have a powerful animal inadequately supervised in position to cause harm to something or someone. Doesn't matter if the dog got lose or not.

The positions assigned to different animals and their perceived "value" doesn't really matter in this situation. Their ability, common sense, and husbandry does.

Their lacking in judgment is dangerous.

Thank you, Dennis. This situation with the puppy got me so burned-mad and sad that I allowed myself to take it further in my head than warranted. I DO realize that the majority of the posters are against the practice of allowing pets to roam freely with large snakes that may consume them, and that the couple in question need to change their irresponsible behaviors.

I love this forum, and the knowledge that it has given me. My emotions got the better of me on this one, and I should have kept to strongly disagreeing with those I am opposed to; not the majority of posters on this forum or the reptile industry.

 

[meowmeowkazoo]

I guess they have chosen not to address this thread. But really, what can you say when people have seen photographic evidence. I actually am wondering if they should be reported to the local animal control. While I would hate for the media to get hold of a story like this, I worry about the remaining/future animals in their care.

 

[Suncoast Herpetological]

Anyone wonder what Honey Boo Boo will look like in about ten years?????/

(the dangling cigarette really completes the picture)

 

[Suncoast Herpetological]

Sorry...couldn't resist.

 

[Tobyyy_Twiztid]

This whole thing is an unfortunate ACCIDENT. However having said that these people do not deserve to own any animals if they can't even supervise them properly. That retic could have just as easily gotten a hold of a child.

 

[Lucille]

I actually am wondering if they should be reported to the local animal control.

Or maybe


http://www.waynesboropolice.org/tip.htm

 

[Reptile Revolt]

tragic turn of events. how awful to watch something like this. And to video tape it?

 

[Kabikano]

No such thing as accidents when owning animals period. This is called owner negligence.

 

[bennana]

that is ridiculous accidents happen and are unavoidable hence the term accident