not sure weerthis would of fell

[mechnut450]

WEll as everyone know I do reptile removals as a side hobby and such. I get a call this afternoon ( around 1230 pm) by no thoer than the state police. THey had a magor drug bust and the place had like 20 snakes in the house. I wend up removing them all, and they had to be sadly destroyed, There were bps, boas, and a large burmese. All the snakes were in such poor shape that it was only humane thing to do, the one bp was in such bad shape that it look like the belly area had been gutted open and everything remved and them placed ona hot rock to cook. Most the snake had scale rott, dehydrated, and not eating in months ( at least), I end up taking extra cloths ( something told me to), and was glad I did I had mites, lice and roaches everywere. I end upchanging in the back of an van that was ther for collecting edvinceIT was a sight I never seen so many cops with they cloths ducttaped shut and all I heard one come that he called he wife and told her to get the lice shampoo and such befoer he got home ( i think it was a mutli made call( shudder thinkngi about it all) I was also told that when it goes to court that I would be most likey asked to testify about the poor health of the animals. I didn't take any pics, I don't think they let me if i had tried since it an open case. I was given the understanding that if not for me they would had to shot the snakes on the spot since noone deals with reptiles. I will say once I showed a couple cops the proper way to handle the snakes they helped me with the bigger ones. The had the spce peopel ther for the cats and a goat ( of all things) and had a talk with the person in charge and al lthe animals were to be put down. It was a sad site I think the onl thing that was fat ther ewere the parasites( lice,mites and roaches). I also hard thatthe place will be condem and torn down oncde they got the proper paper work done since this placed look like it was a dump. I know they made at least one arrest while I was there.

I bet the burmese snake was about 12 ft long easy and only weight about 30 pound if lucky. and most the bps I handled were under 100 grams and should of weight at least 1800 if not more. I know that a couple were already dead and those were not among the 20 I removed.

If any of it makes the news I will post a link but I am not to sure if it wil l since i never saw a news crew.

I will say the best part was all the thanks I got from the officers there, it made all my efforts more worth it ( it been the best if i could of saved a few reptile lives, but I think the humane thing was to let them be put down since I know it cost at least 3-4 hundred minuim per snake and then they could still died and I don't have those funds on hand.

[CTReptileRescue]

I am so sorry you had to go through such a tough case. I feel for you.
Just remember that you did the right thing for the animals involved.

Keep all of your vet records and try and follow it through. Sometimes it can be difficult to prosecute animal cruelty cases when it involves our beloved herps.
If you need a shoulder or any dvice on court proceedings I'm here for ya.
Just remember as hard as it was to see the poor things in such horrid conditions, it sounds like you and the vet made all the right decisions on ending their suffering.
Stay strong
Rusty

[mechnut450]

yeah it was hard I QT myself until after the weekend from the snakes ( I got my niece checking water and spot cleaning ) untiL am sure I not got any mites or lice on me or in my truck I tossed the cloths right in the can when I got home I am bombing my truck tomorrow, then shaving my head to the skin to be sure.( it summer so it won't be to bad ) I am sleeping in he floor on an sleeping bag tonight and setting another bomb off in my room.. I a mnot taking any chances. heck if i knew it not kill me I give my self a chem bath in PAM lol..

There were no vet bills involved in this case the animals were just too far gone. PLus the police/spca wer talking about freezing the bodies for edvience, I was called by one of the cops an hour ago and they found 3 more snakes ( escaped from the cages ) and were hiding in/under the couch. a 4ft boa all but dead and 2 more dead corns ( this time) I guess they were hiding under the couch.

[Oroborous]

My god that sounds awful, I am so sorry you had to deal with that, I can only imagine how hard it was.
You definantly did the right thing for the animals...I hope the people responsible for all their suffering gets the justice they deserve.

[CTReptileRescue]

Please keep us updated on the case.
I understand the lice / mite issue. I swear no matter how clean I get after something like that I always still have the "creepy crawly" feeling.
Rusty

[mechnut450]

well good news 3 of the snakes were worth saving it appears and they spca has them in foster homes, all are out of state so much better for the snakes since Delaware regs get tricky ( i have t0 apply for a rehab lic and some other special permits) that I not gotten ( not even so post to be donig the snake removals with out a business lic and insurance. But since I don't charge they letting me be. They arrested 3 people now in the case. It seem that 2 of the snakes were microchipped and reported stolen about a month ago. ( they are 2/3 of the ones deemed worth saving. These must been the ones after I left cause all the ones i had handle were U shaped. I was given the info worng they had these snakes plus the dying/dead ones under there. I had to goto the police station ( barracks) and give a second statement to one of the procecutorsand dective that was not atthe scene.. I was asked to be placed on their contact list for future calls.( they got my number from one of the dispatcher that knows me lol)I said sure. I think I really now need ot consider finding my own place, since it possible I may end up with some if not all the snakes from calls lol..

THis does keep up I may drop grass cutting and look into a SPCA type job if I can figure out if will not mess up my disablity any.