Snake Kills Local Child.

Yes, but as the owner it is his responsibility to make sure that the enclosure for such an animal is "unescapable". I don't see any reason why a snake couldn't be fitted with something similar to the collars dogs use that go with underground electric fences that would both shock the snake if it crossed the barrier and cause a sign to light up to alert neighbors.

I believe the man is 100% responsible for what happened and should face the fullest consequences our law allows. If a person's dog gets out of the yard and attacks someone, that person is held responsible. If someone else is driving a car that is registered to you and they hit and kill someone...YOU are also held responsible for allowing them to drive the car in the first place. I don't believe he should be able to make a case about it somehow not being his fault.

Rex...if something was wrong with the enclosure...who's responsibility was it to make sure it was escape-proof? Who's responsibility is it to make sure that NO one else would have access to that cage and be able to open it? The owner. ANYone who wants to own a dangerous animal...be it a venomous snake, or a giant one, or an aggressive dog, or whatever...should be 100% ready to take full responsibility for ANYthing that animal does. If you don't feel you're responsible for what your animals do, then you are in no way ready to keep those animals. There is NO room for "mistakes" when dealing with animals like that.

/rant

Yea remember that lady in california whos dog attacked that young woman in her hall way. She got like 40 years.

Pfft. She served two, even knowing the dog breed is banned across a good bit of the country with good reason.

I was overexagurating. LOL

The man may face severe consequences in civil court after the criminal proceedings come to a close. A wrongful death suit will almost certainly be filed.

Problem is, if the laws regarding this are vague, his lawyer may be able to get him off relatively easy to what the child's family is going through.

Playing devil's advocate though, couldn't we come across a venomous snake at almost any time outside? I know there are LOTS of copperheads around here and I'm sure San Antonio has its fair share of hots in the area. I still think the man is 100% responsible, but his lawyers may take this approach in his defense. This is already a lose-lose situation no matter how it turns out.

I would agree that the keeper is at fault.
This is exactly why they make shows about how dangerous snakes are. No one cares about the fact that tons of people keep herps and deaths from captive herps are very rare.

Also would like to play devils advocate....
Was anyone watching the kid? I dont think Id let my five year old be outside by himself. There are some pretty sick people in the world just waiting to scoop up an unatended child...
(and obviously other dangers)

I don't think the laws are vague at all. If you own an animal, you are responsible for what that animal does. There are plenty of cut-and-dried cases out there to set the precedence. And while SA may have some native hot snakes, they are rarely, if ever, in the neighborhoods. If it were a wild snake that wandered in on its own, that would be one thing...but this man brought a deadly, non-native snake into the neighborhood...and because of HIS unconscionable negligence and irresponsibility...this family lost the most precious person in their world. There simply is no defense against that...and if this man's lawyers find a legal one, I for one will be fit to be tied.

I completely agree with you, Judy. This shouldn't be treated any differently than a case where someone's dangerous dog gets loose and assaults some passerby.

Did the man make a concious effort to locate the snake or warn his neighbors that it had escaped? I mean, I'd be scared to even MOVE if I came home, looking in my hot's enclosure, and saw that it was gone. Its truely sad that this man allowed the situation to get to that point. Truely negligent and irresponsible.

poor snake they killed it wy it wasn't rabid or anything it was only scared see they needed justice for something that wasn't even aware of what it did i think its the owners fault if your going to keep venomous snake you are resposible for making sure it doesn't get out i would be scared to death and make shure it didn't get out it would be in a steel cage i would never own one in the first place but others do it well and enjoy it just because i don't like it doesn't mean its wrong.