Cottonwood Heights Residents Want Neighbor's Snake Collection Gone

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(KUTV) At the Cottonwood Heights city council meeting, resident Thomas Cobb got an earful from his neighbors who say they want the city to get rid of his collection of 29 boa constrictors. The comments were directed at the city council, but Cobb, who was in the front row, said he felt the sting. "It was hurtful," he said after the meeting. "It's hard to know there are so many people who don't know me but are against me," he added choking back tears.

Toby Paulos spoke on behalf of 50 people in the Hollow Ridge neighborhood who say they are afraid of what Cobb's snakes might do. Paulos held up pictures as proof that Cobb had dangerous snakes in his house. She said Cobb was running a business. "We demand that he be shut down," she said.

Cobb said he is not in the snake business. He said he’s a collector and trader of constrictors. It's taken his life savings and years to collect the snakes, which he keeps in his basement in plastic boxes. He and his wife said they wouldn't keep the snakes in the house with their two young children if they were dangerous. Dr. Laurel Harris, a veterinarian and owner of Wasatch Exotic Pet Care, spoke in support of Cobb. She said he knows a lot about snakes and does a good job of housing them in a safe, clean way. She said the constrictors don't bite and are not venomous and are not likely to slither out of the house and bother or hurt people. "Every dog in that neighborhood could potentially pose more risk to any child than any of his snakes ever could."

Mayor Kelvyn Cullimore said Cobb was keeping the snakes without a permit, but once he was made aware of the law, he applied for permits— which were granted. Cullimore told the crowd that inspections were done in Cobb's home and the city found his collection of snakes was properly housed and kept in the basement and there is no reason to believe the snakes are a danger. Cullimore said the law is ambiguous and must now be reviewed to make it clearer for pet owners who apply for future permits. "We need to decide what is the number of pets that can be allowed in a residential neighborhood," he said. Cobb is the test case for the exotic animal law.

Cobb and his wife told the council that neighbors had never tried to get to know them until now and that many give them dirty looks and spy on their activities at home. Cobb said the few people who live immediately around him have expressed support for him and have been in his house to see his snakes for themselves. “I invite the rest of the neighbors, if they are willing to come over as well," he said.
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