This one stuck a nerve,

[CTReptileRescue]

Mods, feel free to move to a more appropriate place on the forums if you feel it needed.

This one is just too much for me to handle this week, it's a bit disturbing to say the least.
First let me post a picture of a beautiful Northern Water snake Mike and I pulled out of a river (released of course after photo opt)

Beautiful I'd say, love his colors.

Well get a good look because apperantly when a bunch of ignorant fools get a hold of one in the city none the less bad things happen.
Sorry it will be a fuzzy shot:

This is a full grown Northern Water Snake that was brought in by Animal Contol Officer out of Hartford, CT (the capital). He was cruising through an apartment complex parking lot, trying to get back to his waterway....
A bunch of teens and young adults proceeded to throw rocks at him (fracturing his spine in multiple places) and then douced him with gasoline and car oil. right before they lit the match the cops showed and we got the call.
I am at a loss for words. Ignorance is a sad sad thing. There's only so long that I can keep my eyes closed before I get smacked in the face.
I am just livid (as I am sure you can tell by my post). I am just seriosly bothered by this case. (That doesn't happen to often).
Anyhow just thought I'd share. Remember guys education is key.
Hopefully if people knew this snake was harmless he'd be happy and healthy to this day, hopefully.
Rusty

[daniel1983]

Ignorance is the number one killer of reptiles......that is so sad.

Rusty...I guess with any rescue operation...some horrible sights and acts are bound to be encountered along the way....But if I were in your place, I would have lost it along time ago...I don't know how you handle it....you have my respect for what you do...God Bless.

[joepythons]

Now that is just totaly wrong .I assist the local police when they get call concerning reptiles.The last time i received a call i arrived at the house just in time as they were getting ready to kill a juvy black rat snake .Well i educated them about snakes and how he was more scared of them then anything.I told them to call me directly anytime they need assistance and hopefully they listened to me.I hope you are able to rehab him and are able to release him in a safe area.Keep us posted please.

[Vomitore]

Good thing I wasn't around those kids Who wants some charred dumbs**ts!

[Ginevive]

That is just unbelievable. I always say, "never underestimate the power of ignorant people in large groups."
What is it, that makes a group of young people act like that? If it were one kid walking down a street, and he saw a snake like that, I think it'd be very unlikely that this would have happened; unless he was a really depraved psycho. But I can just picture it; one lowlife starts it, and others chime in.. completely horrifying if you ask me.
Is the snake still alive? it is hard to tell from the pic. At any rate, I admire you Rusty, for all the good that you do to these poor creatures.

[lillyorchid]

That just made me want to cry. I can't believe people and the horrible things they do! Poor poor snake! I hope those twits get their well earned & deserved karma one day!

[jessie_k_pythons]

I wish you the best of luck with him, and if he has to be put down, at least he is in the right hands when it happens. he has my heart and my healing vibes heading his way. please keep us posted.

[MedusasOwl]

I will never understand animal cruelty... I read something recently where a bunch of teens did the same thing to a snapping turtle (I believe) they found... set him on fire and filmed it, thought it was funny... Never never understand what is wrong with these people...

[4theSNAKElady]

That poor snake. May he at least be comfortable. I hear that 80% of murderers,rapists,child abusers,etc were juvs/teens that abused and tortured animals...how very sad. I just don't have the willpower to hold back my reaction topeople like that...sorry, but I'm goin with like what the big V-Man said...

[Sapphire7]

Ignorance, evilness, and plain EVILness is the things to animal deaths. This is soo sad.. I sometimes just cannot stand humans (the evil ones) What is our once beautiful planet becomming? Soon the world will be only populated with MAN... especailly at the rate we're going....