Free to Good Home: 5 Loving Boa Constrictors

[RebelOne]

NEWARK, DE-September 27, 2005 - Maybe it's that's face, the one only a mother, and an exotic pet owner could love.
Boa constrictors have become all too popular in Delaware. But it's illegal to have them. That's why John Calwell now has five constrictors at the SPCA. It's an all time high considering his agency usually takes in one or two a year. Four of the snakes were found abandoned at a New Castle apartment complex. The fifth was confiscated from a Wilmington man who didn't have the required permit.

Exotic snake owners also need permits in New Jersey. In Pennsylvania, laws vary by municipalities. But in all three states, reptiles seem to be showing up a lot more lately, legal or not.

Remember Sid the 13-foot-long python that slithered away from its owner in Bucks County, or the alligator-like reptile called a caiman that was found lounging in a Swarthmore creek?

There's a reason for permits for exotic pets like snakes: In the wrong hands they can be dangerous or even deadly. That's why the SPCA will keep these snakes until it can find a suitable owner with a permit.

(Copyright 2005 by WPVI-TV 6. All rights reserved.)

http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=animals_oddit...

That last paragraph is totally bogus. I owned 2 boas at one time. There is no way they can be dangerous or even deadly. Only to the rats and mice they eat.

[longship]

1. "Easy to care for. Friendly. Will eat almost anything...."

"Especially fond of children."

[havocmom]

2. Worked with a woman whose hubby had one boa. It used to get loose

in the apartment and move furniture around while they were out. Knocked the fridge over, into counters on other side of narrow, galley style kitchen, several times. Just wanted to get to that nice, heat producing compressor! But, what a mess!

They also had minor injuries one night, coming home during a power outage. Snake had moved some big chairs and a tabel in the living room. They stumbled over the misplaced furniture and suffered some minor injuries.

I like snakes myself, but wouldn't want them knocking over the fridge and moving the recliners around.

[RebelOne]

3. That must have been a python.

Boas never get big enough to move furniture around. Mine would roam my apartment.

[havocmom]

12. Nope, Rosey Boa - with attitude

poor thing was probably a nervous wreck when cruling and stretching out behind the fridge causes all that noise!

[0rganism]

4. I don't trust any pet that can re-arrange the furniture

For some reason, that really disturbs me.

[ohio_liberal]

6. LOL

My dog can knock over a Christmas tree with its tail. My cats knock over the dining room chairs regularly. It disturbs me to no end, seriously.

[0rganism]

9. knocking over is one thing...

...but if I read the post correctly, this snake was actually sliding larger pieces around their place, in between attempts at remodeling the kitchen. This is the kind of project that I'd rather leave to Bob Vila than Burmese Python.

[havocmom]

14. You read it right.

Chairs from points A & B to points C & D; fridge at about 45 degree angle facing opposing counter, door open, (luckily, freezer door against counter, NOT open) contents spilled

[havocmom]

13. Golden Retriever?

Have known many who knock over chairs and one who tipped a bar over. Happy tails!

[frylock]

11. that could come in handy for vacuuming the apartment!

[elehhhhna]

5. IMPORTANT info for peeps w/ constrictors:

Just saw it this weekend on Animal Planet:

Constrictor snakes will LET GO if doused with hot water. Pour it on yourself & the snake (not boiling--hot tap water is fine)and voila! Then chop the bastard up with a shovel.


okay, I added that part about the shovel, myself.

[alcibiades_mystery]

7. You charging for bad homes?

[yy4me]

8. Too bad permits required, I would have suggested gifts to:

****, cheney, rummy, condi, brownie. Too bad there are only 5 snakes,
I could think of many worthy recipients. Gee, I hate to be selfish, could we divert one to Delay?

[longship]

10. No boa for Cheney.

But how about an anaconda? I think a 35 footer ought to do just fine.

I remember a Mal cartoon in Playboy in the early sixties. An angry man was pointing at a huge snake with four huge lumps in it. The man was scolding the snake, "Are you kidding, the entire Julliard String Quartet?"

Sorry. Guess you had to see the toon to see the humor.