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Post by mourne on Oct 9, 2006 21:50:53 GMT 1
After reading in another thread that cc found a snake in their back yard it got me thinking of the legalities of finding a snake. My hubby found a corn 18 months ago in our garden. We thought at first that it had been left there but it transpired that it was an escapee (we found out 6 months later). We told as many peole as possible when it was found and told everyone if they heard of anyone loosing a snake to send them to us, needless to say no one ever came. This topic was debated on another forum last year (can`t remember which forum). Would just like to hear what everyone thinks before i post what i was told was the proper way/thing to do.
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Post by Shrimply on Oct 9, 2006 22:13:30 GMT 1
I think you should contact local shops, rescue centers and possibly the police to try and find the owners . However in my opinion if you know how to care for the snake then it should stay in your care until an owner is found.
Slightly off topic but a funny story. The owners of the fish and chip shop in front of my local reptile shop found a large corn snake. The chip shop owner was pretty annoyed and gave the reptile shop owner a lot of hassle about it. The reptile owners could not remember loosing a corn for a long time and was unable to explain the appearance. Two days later a guy comes into the shop and asks if a snake has been handed in. Transpires he lives in the flat up the stairs and had won the corn in the pub. He had been keeping it in a cardboard box.
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Post by mourne on Oct 9, 2006 23:34:41 GMT 1
Awe the poor snake, imagine having a snake as a prize and those winning it not having a clue on how to care for it. The debate on the other forum had many different answers and ideas but legally you should go to the police and inform them that you have found a snake, they to be right should take it and care for it but you can ask them if it would be ok for you to care for it and if anyone reports a snake lost would then contact you. If after a time (don`t know exact time limit) noone claims it, it`s yours to keep. Same goes for if you lose a snake..eport to police and local animal authority.
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cc
Hatchling
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Post by cc on Oct 10, 2006 21:16:54 GMT 1
Interesting points. Here's our situation, let me know if you'd handle this differently. If you find a lost animal in our city (btw - I live in Canada), we have a Humane Society (which I donate newspapers to for their abudent supply of kitties), who are quite over-loaded. The local police have no interest in lost animals unfortunately, unless it has attacked a child and then they still simply obtain the animal for transport to the Humane Society. As there are very few 'exotic' pet stores around us, hubby and I canvassed them for frantic/sad customers and even showed the owners a pic of the snake just in case they had been the seller. I've also canvassed the local area around me as well. To date (3 months later), I've not heard a word from anyone. I would happily (okay, not-so-happily as I've grown attached to her) reunite my snake with her original owner, but not before they could explain to me how she got free and why it took this long for me to hear. Personally, if it were me, I'd be knocking on all my neighbours doors asking them to keep an eye out.... Hubby believes she was a pet that someone likely was forced to get rid of and simply set her free. I'm still waiting for the knock on my door. Regardless, she does have a good home and given the time that's past, I'm confident no one is looking for her. I've live in my house over 7 years and know the neighbours well.
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Post by mourne on Oct 11, 2006 19:11:12 GMT 1
Your situation is quite like ours was.I agree to asking questions if the owner were to appear because thats exactly what i was going to do.When my hubby found Lucky he had 3 ticks in his side and his back bone was sticking out. Here we have USPCA and if we had of contacted the police and they didn`t agree to us keeping the snake until such times as the owner could be found thats where they would have taken him. Even with knowing this..if it were to happen again i honestly think we would just do the same as before without contacting any official body.
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Post by mourne on Oct 11, 2006 19:12:25 GMT 1
Sorry forgot to answer you...yes i agree in what u did, i would probably do no different.
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cc
Hatchling
Posts: 9
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Post by cc on Oct 11, 2006 20:04:46 GMT 1
I'm glad to hear Lucky found a good home since it sounds like he was not in great shape when you found him. Hubby told me that our Luna couldn't have found a better yard to be discovered in. She's a very spoiled snake! Earlier this summer a friend of ours found garter snakes (possibly a den) in her garden and from that day forward carried a spade around with her so she could thrash any that dared poke their head out or come anywhere close to her. Sad, but she is petrified of snakes, no matter how many times we try telling her they are harmless. She's advised us that she will not be setting foot in our house now that we have a snake in there.
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Post by mourne on Oct 11, 2006 20:37:15 GMT 1
We had to feed Lucky slowly with pinkies until his stomach got used to food again. Thats sad about your friend but i can understand because i have a sister like that.She comes to visit (not very often) and has to walk straight to my kitchen and not move from it until she is going again. she is absolutely petrified of snakes as well. When my brother got one of my babies this year she said that it would soon be that she wouldn`t be able to visit any of her family .
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Post by brigadoon on Oct 11, 2006 21:02:34 GMT 1
It is frustrating to see people so scared of snakes, especially when you tell them they're harmless. One of my friends stopped coming to my house for a few months and when I finally convinced her to come round, she insisted that the door of my bedroom be closed (that's where they are). She wouldn't believe me or trust me that they couldn't get out...
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Post by hannah81 on Apr 12, 2007 15:08:10 GMT 1
I once had an army engineer friend come visit me after moving to a different town and after a few minutes of being in my room suddenly notice the snake tank. Nake was only about a year old then and still quite small so it wasn't even a big tank. When I told him it was a snake when he enquired about it's contents he jumped into the corner and positivly stood shaking. He wouldn't move until my housemate came in and took the tank to her room while he left the house. Didin't see him again.
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