Parents arrested and charged with felony after child bit by python

LAS VEGAS — Police say the parents of a 3-year-old boy who was attacked by a pet python snake have been arrested on felony child neglect, abuse and endangerment charges.

Records showed that 26-year-old Anthony Melendrez and 25-year-old Melissa Melendrez were being held Tuesday at the Clark County jail pending initial court appearances on Thursday.

Police say the 18-foot python bit and coiled itself around the boy Jan. 20 at a southwest Las Vegas home.

Officials say the snake began squeezing the breath out of the child before Melissa Melendrez stabbed the snake more than a dozen times with a kitchen knife.

The python was later euthanized by animal control officials.

Investigators allege that a 5-year-old child who was in the home also was endangered.

That's horrible. Poor little boy! :(

heres a good link...

http://www.kvbc.com/Global/story.asp?S=9718863

Rack up 2 more for irresponsible owners. Seems like boids are on their way of being ranked the " vicious pitbulls" of the reptile world by the media...

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Originally Posted by iCandiBallPythons

Rack up 2 more for irresponsible owners. Seems like boids are on their way of being ranked the " vicious pitbulls" of the reptile world by the media...

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Well, it seems like the focus is on the parents more than the snake. It would be interesting to know the details of the case.

I think the parents should be charged. They got there child attacked and a snake killed. I am going out this weekend to see if I can get a lock for my sliding glass doors to keep people out of my 2 foot BP enclosure. What would possess someone to have an 18 footer behind an unlocked door. I mean I would have signs up on the door. Reading

"There is an 18 foot Python behind this door. This snake is welcome in our home but it is not a pet. Do not go inside this room alone. Do not go in this room unless you have experience handling giant snakes."

and then there would be a look or two on the door. Amazing how stupid people can be.

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Originally Posted by Egapal

I think the parents should be charged. They got there child attacked and a snake killed. I am going out this weekend to see if I can get a lock for my sliding glass doors to keep people out of my 2 foot BP enclosure. What would possess someone to have an 18 footer behind an unlocked door. I mean I would have signs up on the door. Reading

"There is an 18 foot Python behind this door. This snake is welcome in our home but it is not a pet. Do not go inside this room alone. Do not go in this room unless you have experience handling giant snakes."

and then there would be a look or two on the door. Amazing how stupid people can be.

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Definitly agree with you. Bad parenting and bad pet owner in this case. Should have locked the cage! Thank god the kids are still alive.

At the news site linked above, there's a video version of the story. It seems like the snake didn't belong to them. They were just watching it for someone else.

I'd be pissed if I was the owner that asked these people to watch their snake.

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Originally Posted by MasonC2K

At the news site linked above, there's a video version of the story. It seems like the snake didn't belong to them. They were just watching it for someone else.

I'd be pissed if I was the owner that asked these people to watch their snake.

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Even worse. Bad parenting, bad pet sitting, bad keeper. What exactly are you doing that you need someone to pet sit an 18 foot snake in the sitters home. Put a web came on the snake and give your keys to a sitter. Call them if you need them. That snake could easily go months without food. I just can't imagine a situation that I could be in where that was the only choice I could make. The best I can come up with is if I was being put in jail for more than 6 months and even then I would euthanize the animal myself before giving it to an inexperienced keeper without the proper setup and a small child.

Lock them up and throw away the key. It's people like this that make us all look bad.

Jesus, stupid people are going to ruin this for EVERYONE.

And that kid is probably going to grow up to be a Anti-Snake Advocate.

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Originally Posted by AaronP

And that kid is probably going to grow up to be a Anti-Snake Advocate.

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Especially if that child has to grow up without any parents...
Don't get me wrong, I think this was a case of extreme ignorance and irresponibility that is very unfortunant for the whole hobby, but I don't think these people should be locked away for good...though, they definantly shouldn't be allowed to keep anymore pets...

If I remember the story correctly, the snake is from a store owner who is renovating, so he had his friend house it temporarily.

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Originally Posted by anatess

If I remember the story correctly, the snake is from a store owner who is renovating, so he had his friend house it temporarily.

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that makes it even worse...

responsbility people... the lack of it (especially with large boid breeders and owners) will be the death of this hobby.

I think people forget how powerful these big snakes are and dont give them the respect they deserve. In this case ignorance is not bliss. Most of the problems with snakes stories you read about are these big snakes that people obtain and have no idea what their getting into.

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Originally Posted by West Coast Jungle

I think people forget how powerful these big snakes are and dont give them the respect they deserve. In this case ignorance is not bliss. Most of the problems with snakes stories you read about are these big snakes that people obtain and have no idea what their getting into.

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Great post. That is why I am not completely against a change in the laws. I don't think anyone has the automatic right to own a snake that will reach over 10 feet or one that is venomous. You should prove that you not only have the experience and knowledge, but the proper equipment to keep not only the humans safe, but the animals as well.
While ignorant owners are a big problem, I see irresponsible breeders/store owners who sell these animals as hatchlings without a thought in the world of the potential outcome. If we as an industry would police things better, we wouldn't need the government to do it for us.

Stories like this are sensational and the media is far more aggressive in its attack (uh, I mean reporting) than any animal can be. Owner responsibility is obviously a necessity, especially when it comes to the large constrictors. The news outlets WILL NEVER report on responsible reptile ownership in the same way they will never report on a motorist who drove home safely today. There is no news when it is not dramatic. The only voice reptiles have in the media is us. And we have to be calm, educated and eloquent when we take a moment to act as advocate for both the reptile and the reptile owner. Malice posted a link to a news site discussing the attack. If you read most of the comments on that site you will find them to be anti-snake ownership (not anti-snake, anti-snake ownership). A baby being wrapped by a large constrictor is going to get clicks from pretty much everybody who sees the headline. When people read the comments of others it can help to sway them in favor of that view. If we act more like a cohesive community and take the time to post an articulate defense of the reptile owner (not this particular reptile owner, mind you) we will be doing ourselves a greater long term service.

Sadly, we can't un-ring this particular bell.

Regards,

That was posted on here already they didnt say anything about them being charged with anything. On the link that was posted originally.

Stories like this are the reason my husband and I have been getting nasty phone calls from his family.
We only have Ball Pythons, nothing giant. We have had family members threaten to kill our snakes, and state officials threaten us on other grounds regarding the snakes.:taz:
I spend a good 3-4 hous a day trying to educate friends, family, and said officials.
I have small children, but the are now old enouph to learn about proper care of the snakes. There is NO unsupervised handling the snakes stay in thier cages unless mom or dad is there to help!

I can't stand the way people treat the animals badly, when it was the owner/keeper's resonsibility to keep the animal, and people around it safe.


like they say for pittbulls...punnish the deed, not the breed.

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Originally Posted by JamieLynn

Stories like this are the reason my husband and I have been getting nasty phone calls from his family.
We only have Ball Pythons, nothing giant. We have had family members threaten to kill our snakes, and state officials threaten us on other grounds regarding the snakes.:taz:
I spend a good 3-4 hous a day trying to educate friends, family, and said officials.
I have small children, but the are now old enouph to learn about proper care of the snakes. There is NO unsupervised handling the snakes stay in thier cages unless mom or dad is there to help!

I can't stand the way people treat the animals badly, when it was the owner/keeper's resonsibility to keep the animal, and people around it safe.


like they say for pittbulls...punnish the deed, not the breed.

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Thank you i agree :gj:.Is it possible to have a talk with your family and possibly have them visit our family friendly site? This way they can see the truth not the crap the media stretches.

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Originally Posted by sg1trogdor

That was posted on here already they didnt say anything about them being charged with anything. On the link that was posted originally.

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thats because some prosecutor thought they could make some charges stick!
the police can charge you or not.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JamieLynn

Stories like this are the reason my husband and I have been getting nasty phone calls from his family.
We only have Ball Pythons, nothing giant. We have had family members threaten to kill our snakes, and state officials threaten us on other grounds regarding the snakes.:taz:
I spend a good 3-4 hous a day trying to educate friends, family, and said officials.
I have small children, but the are now old enouph to learn about proper care of the snakes. There is NO unsupervised handling the snakes stay in thier cages unless mom or dad is there to help!

I can't stand the way people treat the animals badly, when it was the owner/keeper's resonsibility to keep the animal, and people around it safe.


like they say for pittbulls...punnish the deed, not the breed.

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Wow sorry to hear about your problems. Here is an argument I like. Not sure if you have tried it or not. Pick one of the family that is giving you a hard time who has cats. Ask them how much their cat weighs. An average cat weighs around 10 pounds. Cats are carnivores. They have no respect for your authority and pretty much just want to suck up your body heat (sound familiar). How can a person who keeps a 10 pound carnivore with claws and teeth who needs to eat every day be afraid of a smaller carnivore who eats once a week has smaller teeth and no claws. You are more likely to be scratched or bit (ironically I looked down as I type and have a scratch on the back of my hand now) by your cat than by your BP. I for one have a rule about not being afraid of animals that weight less than 20 pounds unless they are venomous.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JamieLynn

Stories like this are the reason my husband and I have been getting nasty phone calls from his family.
We only have Ball Pythons, nothing giant. We have had family members threaten to kill our snakes, and state officials threaten us on other grounds regarding the snakes.:taz:
I spend a good 3-4 hous a day trying to educate friends, family, and said officials.
I have small children, but the are now old enouph to learn about proper care of the snakes. There is NO unsupervised handling the snakes stay in thier cages unless mom or dad is there to help!

I can't stand the way people treat the animals badly, when it was the owner/keeper's resonsibility to keep the animal, and people around it safe.


like they say for pittbulls...punnish the deed, not the breed.

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I know that feeling. My wife's family keeps declaring that if she ever gets pregnant we are going to get rid of the snakes... right?

Actually, they are rather anti-snake in general and whole heartedly believe people only keep snakes for shock value rather than actually caring about the animals.

I guess it's right up there with the idea that everytime you tell someone you have snakes, you have to hear their story of how they brutally killed some innocent black snake or garter snake in their yard with a bucket... Honestly, it sickens me. How can people have that little tact and understanding. I wouldn't walk up to a cat lover and say "Ohh, you like cats? There was this one time that a cat was in my yard, so I beat it with a broom handle until it stopped moving. I'm so lucky that I killed it so it didn't kill me."

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Originally Posted by domingo

I know that feeling. My wife's family keeps declaring that if she ever gets pregnant we are going to get rid of the snakes... right?

Actually, they are rather anti-snake in general and whole heartedly believe people only keep snakes for shock value rather than actually caring about the animals.

I guess it's right up there with the idea that everytime you tell someone you have snakes, you have to hear their story of how they brutally killed some innocent black snake or garter snake in their yard with a bucket... Honestly, it sickens me. How can people have that little tact and understanding. I wouldn't walk up to a cat lover and say "Ohh, you like cats? There was this one time that a cat was in my yard, so I beat it with a broom handle until it stopped moving. I'm so lucky that I killed it so it didn't kill me."

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Wait, I'm confused.

Are we for or against playing dodge cat with cars?

Are squirrels ok?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JamieLynn

Stories like this are the reason my husband and I have been getting nasty phone calls from his family.
We only have Ball Pythons, nothing giant. We have had family members threaten to kill our snakes, and state officials threaten us on other grounds regarding the snakes.:taz:
I spend a good 3-4 hous a day trying to educate friends, family, and said officials.
I have small children, but the are now old enouph to learn about proper care of the snakes. There is NO unsupervised handling the snakes stay in thier cages unless mom or dad is there to help!

I can't stand the way people treat the animals badly, when it was the owner/keeper's resonsibility to keep the animal, and people around it safe.


like they say for pittbulls...punnish the deed, not the breed.

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I am in the same boat! My entire family (except for my brother whose wife is okay with snakes) will not come to my house anymore. My mom won't even open my emails anymore because I sent her pictures of my kids holding the snakes. They think I'm endangering my kids and that I should kill my snakes before they kill my kids. But, I can't really be mad at them, because prior to last year, I FELT THE EXACT SAME WAY! It wasn't until the reptile store opened close to my house and my husband took the kids to it every weekend that I learned to appreciate them to the point that I finally said okay to my husband getting a snake. From that time on, I'm addicted to them! We got the kids their own snake only 2 weeks after my husband got his. So, yeah, it is all about education and a close encounter with a pet snake to dispel that irrational fear. But even then, I watched that guy from Dirty Jobs talk (some guy posted it in one of these threads) and he said something about having a dream where he threw a snake aside and he interpreted it as throwing something bad aside. It is ingrained in our society to associate snake with bad. It is sad, but it is the reality. I am not exaggerating but I have been to work, to school, to friends' parties, to church and when I happen to mention my snake, there's always somebody who says I need to kill it. I hate to admit it, but snake-lovers are a teeny minority - probably in the ranks of the endangered species. So yeah, education - that's the key. I try to find any opportunity to educate somebody about our snakes.

These are all the reasons that we as snake keepers should never share our enthusiasm with anyone. Sadly we can't enjoy the same freedom other people have to talk publicly about our interests. You will never change anyones mind. And the harder you try the more problems you will bring yourself. None of my neighbors know I keep snakes. I have even had to lie about it when I was caught bringing in rodents (just babysitting for a few days). I don't have that problem now that I breed my own feeders. Trust me the fewer people who know what you keep in your house the easier your life will be.