Pet Python Kills a Toddler in Florida
Who is Responsible?
How did the pet escape?
The snake's owner was the mother's boyfriend, who was also said to be housing another illegal python snake in inadequate housing. According to Colarossi (2009), the tragedy that happened in Lake Wood was mainly due to the substandard housing provided by the pet owner. If the owner would have had the correct type of housing, which is considered appropriate for a snake of this size. An escape proof enclosure is needed, in order to prevent these types of tragedies from happening when housing snakes near humans and children.
Who is responsible?
The snake was hunting for food and not being a cold blooded killer, as it entered her room after escaping the cage. According to Colarossi (2009), the python struck her little body several times and strangled her to death. The Sheriffs office also states the mother's boyfriend has no permit to keep either snake. However, who is to blame for the tragedy is still unclear, due to the pending investigation and what it turns up.
Is this Child Endangerment?
The spokesman Charges may be filed against the owner or the mother, but at this time there is "no precedent" in a case like this. It is not a great idea to keep any dangerous animal around a child, especially a monstrous exotic snake. According to Williams (2009), many say it is child endangerment, because they both knowingly kept the illegal snakes in the home. However, the sheriff's office has stated that this is an on going investigation and someone may face charges in the future.
Who Should Face Charges?
Many have spoken out about killing this house pet, yet others say the boyfriend or the mother is to blame for this tragedy. This powerful yet massive albino snake is accused of killing a two-year-old girl as she slept, but in reality he was most likely hungry. Additionally, bad ownership is blamed, since the boyfriend had no adequate housing for the reptiles. According to Colarossi (2009), the Florida Sheriff's Department and the Department of Children and Families are investigating this case also.
Conclusion
In Conclusion, the tragedy in Lake Wood has caused the government to look in to the current laws involving exotic reptiles like these snakes. Now, all snake owners are required to register their pet and have each one micro chipped, in order for officials to keep track of the current population. Currently, public and government officials are also investigating who is to blame, since this could have been prevented. Therefore, the snake may be killed and the adults involved may also face charges in the future, which range from child endangerment to misdemeanor.
References:
Colaross, A. (2009) Fate of python that killed little girl being pondered
Retrieved on August 15, 2009 on the World Wide Web
http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2009/jul/07/fate-python-killed-little-girl-being-pondered/
Earth Times (2009) Pet Burmese Python killed two-year-old in Florida
Retrieved on August 15, 2009 on the World Wide Web
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/275745,pet-burmese-python-kills-two-year-old-girl-in-florida.html
Williams, C. (2009) Autopsy: 2-year-old girl killed by python died of asphyxiation
Retrieved on August 15, 2009 on the World Wide Web
http://www.abcactionnews.com/news/local/story/Autopsy-2-year-old-girl-killed-by-python-died-of/Strzyd6QRU20bwLhoG-o_g.cspx
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12 Comments
Post a Commentinteresting well written
It still amazes me that people keep these as pets
Such a sad story....problem def. lies with the adult humans in this story, not the snake. Thanks for the report on this!
This snake was doing what it does - it was looking for food. This is not a dog, where there have been millenia of domestication (and even dogs can turn on their families). It's an animal that knows few things - to eat, to sleep, to rest. The snake is not at fault, the "owner", however, is. He has more than one illegal pet. He has brought it into the house before ensuring there was a safe environment for the animal AND the family. It breaks my heart to think of that poor child and what she went through. Her mother must be devastated. The boyfriend should be charged and he should do time - lots of time. Reckless endangerment can be a start. Turn the snakes over to someone who can be responsible and who will care for them - or, turn them loose in their indigenous environment where they can do what they do best without putting the public at risk. Just heartbreaking.
Horrific tragedy..the second story in as many weeks in which a parent's recklessness caused the death of a child. Thanks for the report.
Awful, I heard about this from my husband and couldn't believe a pet could do something like this-- great write up :)
Sad. Snakes can be great pets but JEEZ! I once got rid of my malamute after it snapped at my kids. Where's these folks' priorities?
wow what a story, I can see why there is no precedent, please keep up updated on what they decide
What a tragedy. As Patricia rightly says, strange choice of a pet!
tragic on all levels