What should I do...?

My cousin has a ball python, but his mother is beyond stupid. She won't let him feet his snake anything larger than fuzzies (frozen/thawed) and won't let the snake eat more than once a month. This pisses me off to no end. His snake is a good two and a half years old, but is only maybe 2 feet and incredibly skinny. I tried to talk to her and ask her why she does it, she said she "doesn't want it getting big." The poor thing just looks sickly, has stuck shed all over, and scabs on it's head from stuck shed, I'm assuming. His water dish is filling with green algae.

They won't surrender the snake to me, and I don't know what to do about it. Should I call animal authorities and inform them of the mistreatment? Or should I try again to get them to give him to me again? I'm so lost and I hate seeing that poor snake like that.

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Originally Posted by starquakes

My cousin has a ball python, but his mother is beyond stupid. She won't let him feet his snake anything larger than fuzzies (frozen/thawed) and won't let the snake eat more than once a month. This pisses me off to no end. His snake is a good two and a half years old, but is only maybe 2 feet and incredibly skinny. I tried to talk to her and ask her why she does it, she said she "doesn't want it getting big." The poor thing just looks sickly, has stuck shed all over, and scabs on it's head from stuck shed, I'm assuming. His water dish is filling with green algae.

They won't surrender the snake to me, and I don't know what to do about it. Should I call animal authorities and inform them of the mistreatment? Or should I try again to get them to give him to me again? I'm so lost and I hate seeing that poor snake like that.

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You may have to threaten them

Tell them that if they dont give you the snake, for free, within the next few days that you will contact the authorities.

I have heard of people selling mistreated and very sick snakes on things like craigslist, instead of somebody buying the animal, they will threaten to notify the authorities and thats usually all it takes for them to give the animal away for free

Dont do it unless they refuse to give the animal to you. for now just threaten it and see what they do.

good luck and I want to say, thank you for thinking about the animals welfare so much :)

Yep do your best to get the snake of the bad situation....my buddy lost his job and couldnt afford to feed his snake so I started buying him rats and I ended up liking snakes alot and ended up with my own.....

What a cruel woman. I can understand if she would simply forbid any snakes in her house. Some people just want it that way, and I can respect that. Her son can get all the snakes he wants when he moves out.

BUT to allow the snake, only to let it be starved and mistreated ??? Once the snake is in her house, it is her responsibility as well. The animals can't take care of themself. How can her "motherly" instinct not kick in ?

So you have made it clear to her what she is doing, and she still won't budge ? And shame shame SHAME on your cousin. He could have simply gave the snake to you. What would his mother have done about it ? Nothing, thats what. If she had been mad, you could have said it was that or call the ASPC. She would have let it go then.

Tell your cousin to surrender the snake to you. If he won't, tell him and that woman that you will call the authorities. Just because its a coldblooded animal does NOT give them the right to slowly starve it to death and mistreat it like that. That is just wrong. The snake would be better off dead then.

Please don't let this go until you get that snake out of there, better now then later...

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Originally Posted by glk832

Yep do your best to get the snake of the bad situation....my buddy lost his job and couldnt afford to feed his snake so I started buying him rats and I ended up liking snakes alot and ended up with my own.....

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I offered to pick up his snake on the day I fed my snakes to feed them to, but his mom won't let me.

And if you get it out, SLOWLY start feeding it more, don't overdo it right away, its organs won't be able to handle that, sad as it is :( Feed small meals, just more often then once the month. Slowly work your way up to a more appropriate schedule.

Thanks for trying.

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Originally Posted by starquakes

I offered to pick up his snake on the day I fed my snakes to feed them to, but his mom won't let me.

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Its time to get the ASPCA involved... Man so sad....

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Originally Posted by glk832

Its time to get the ASPCA involved... Man so sad....

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Gonna have to agree. They dont seem like they are going to accept help or give the snake up

best to contact the ASPCA

How old is your cousin?? I am NOT the sort of person that would normally advise to go against parental authority...but when that authority is being abused, sometimes it can't be helped. If your cousin is just a little kid, then he's really powerless in this situation. But if he's an older teen, he is plenty old enough to take responsibility for his own pet. IF the kid is old enough to be aware of the consequences of his choices and the responsibilities he bears himself, have HIM give you the snake behind his mother's back.

He can tell his mother the snake died (or escaped) or whatever...maybe she wouldn't even notice it was gone if no one mentioned it? :mad: Don't worry about trying to sneak out some fish tank....if you want to rescue the snake, buy your own setup for him and have the cousin sneak just the animal out of the house in a small, secure bag.

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Originally Posted by JLC

How old is your cousin?? I am NOT the sort of person that would normally advise to go against parental authority...but when that authority is being abused, sometimes it can't be helped. If your cousin is just a little kid, then he's really powerless in this situation. But if he's an older teen, he is plenty old enough to take responsibility for his own pet. IF the kid is old enough to be aware of the consequences of his choices and the responsibilities he bears himself, have HIM give you the snake behind his mother's back.

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He's 14 or 15. I can't remember. But he does know he should take responsibility. The thing is, he's not allowed to be home alone. So it would be hard to explain me showing up out of the blue to visit him. :\

Wow i don't suppose he's allowed out and about alone. Have him meet you somewhere within walking distance of him so he doesn't have to get a ride. have him put the snake in a backpack or something not so obvious. walking out of the house with a pillowcase might set her off.

I agree, get him to put it in a pillow case or backpack, maybe when he goes to school and meet him down the block. He can tell his mom it escaped and that will probably freak her out into not wanting it no matter what. Tell him the snake is still his and you will care for it until he moves out or something.....unless he is fine with you keeping it.

Id go with the ASPCA, they deserve it. :mad:

Talk to your cousin. Explain to him that the snake is starving and needs to be fed more, as well as, a constant supply of fresh water. Tell him that you are willing to take care of the snake for him. He is more than welcome to come visit when he wants to and when he gets his own place, and can provide proper care, then he can have it back. If he really cares for the snake, and knows that your aunt is being unreasonable, then he should be willing to help figure out a way to get the snake into better conditions. I don't know what kind of relationship you have with these relatives, but one thing to consider, before calling the ASPCA, is the potential for ugly family drama that might result. Have you tried introducing them to this website so they can do the research for themselves? Maybe print off a care sheet and some of the threads on feeding requirements might help some. I'm just saying explore all the options and call the ASPCA only as a last resort. Good Luck...

Your aunt sounds like a bright woman! I would call the authorities and have that poor snake removed. It also sounds like she can't raise a kid right either... He can't be home alone at 15?!? Some kids have their first jobs and are begining to drive at this age!

Wow you are easier going than I am...... I hope all ends well

This is my first post... but for the love of all things Holy... either threaten that woman into giving you the snake or call the authorities. Don't wait till middle of next week... do it today.

I just yesterday, took possession of a bp that the previous owner hadn't fed in two months because she was afraid it would bite her. :O She claimed the 12 inch baby was aggressive and mean. This little darlin' isn't even head shy and ate right away when I offer f/t yesterday.

Please.. take action quickly before this snake is killed.

If you aren't allowed over unannounced sounds like you aren't all that close, just call the ASPCA.... I wonder if she doesn't feed your cousin because she doesn't want him to get too big either?

That snake needs out of there. Your cousin and aunt are starving him. That's animal cruelty. Use calling the authorities as a threat and a last resort. I dislike the idea of going against a parental unit but in this case, your cousin sneaking the snake out and giving to you to care for, whether temporary or permanent, seems like the best solution short of calling the authorities if your cousin can't get the snake out or your aunt just refuses any sane thoughts.

I wish you the best of luck and please don't wait. Thank you for trying to get the snake out.

Your aunt, appears to be ignorant to many facts regarding BP's, I would print off a care / husbandry sheet and give it to her, before contacting the authorities. Then do what you have to do to ensure the animal is safe & well cared for.

Ummm... out of curiousity, have you tried talking to whichever parent of yours is directly related to this aunt? Maybe they could explain things better.

To be honest, if you call the authorities, you're definitely going to set off some family drama. If you're close to them, it'll put a strain on the relationship. If you're not that close... well you may just drive them to the point where you never see them.