IMO, this is a very cut and dry case of complete neglect by the parents. Big Burms need a very secure cage or they will get out. They are always checking out their enclosure looking for the "weak" spot. They wonder around. A douvet (not sure how it is spelled) is not an secure lid.

In the article it said they were both unemployed, they could not afford to feed the burm properly. The last meal they gave the poor thing was road kill. It probably was not a very big squirrel to boot.

The part that really angers me, they had family and friends offer to keep the snake securely, offered different situations for all of it and were declined. These folks put their child in danger by pure neglect and they should pay with as much as the law will allow.

Unfortunately due to folks like this the whole herp community gets a huge black eye, which with all the legislation trying to get passed in a lot of states hurts us badly.

Sorry for the ranting, this... upsets me!