Pet Python Kills Toddler: Why Own Animals Known To Kill?

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  Posted by Z's Thu Jul 9, 2009 7:00pm PDT

  Posted by Peter L Fri Jul 3, 2009 8:07am PDT

  I'm a pediatrian who has dealt with many sorts of trauma. My advice for parents for years has been "get rid of the family dog.". If you plan to have a child in the next 10 years, don't get a dog.

  Not on pit bulls but toy dogs too. Poodles have been known to kill infants. So year, snakes are dangerous as well as a dogs. If you child cannot take on your pet in a one on one fight, pet goes OUT THE DOOR!!!!

  --------------------I don't believe Peter is a pediatrician, but I do agree with his statements.

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  Posted by Z's Thu Jul 9, 2009 7:05pm PDT

  Alicia-- your home sounds like an accident waiting to happen. For your children's sakes, I hope one doesn't. But, please don't say silly things like, "they aren't going to turn their backs on their dogs". The dogs are animals, which, at any time, could rip the face off your child. Please keep them at a safe distance. Please do your job as a parent, protect your children...not the animals.

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  Posted by *devotion72 Fri Jul 10, 2009 10:54am PDT

  Yes it was! Thanks!

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  Posted by Dan Mon Jul 13, 2009 8:28am PDT

  From 1980 to 2009 there have been 13 fatalities in the USA from pet snake attacks. In 2008 ALONE there were 23 fatal attacks by dogs in the USA. Snakes make wonderfull pets but its the owners responsibility to properly keep and care for them.

  I have owned snakes my whole life, I have had reticulated and burmese pythons over 14 feet in the same house as my children and never had an issue. The reason is because most of us big snake keepers take the proper precautions. My big pythons are in secure, locked enclosures, and in their own room. I have never had a big snake escape an enclosure but if it did it would be in the snakeroom with the door closed and unable to get out. Whenever I have to handle a snake over 8-10 feet I have a second capable adult there just in case I need a hand. Owning a snake is a fun and rewarding experience but the keeper needs to have some knowlage and experience before owning a giant species and then must follow proper safety precautuions to ensure the safety of the persons in the household. Its unfortunate that a small number of people buy a giant snake to make up for personal shortcomings,to make them look "cool" or "tough" and it reflects badly on us responsible keepers.

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  Posted by Nicole Milano Mon Jul 13, 2009 10:09am PDT

  he should have had a permit... the child shouldnt even had been in the same residence with the snake... maybe if he would have had the right cage(something) for this animal this wouldnt have happened... thats neither here nor there, this poor child lost her life. I could not be in that mother's shoes. So sad

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  Posted by Jennifer Mon Jul 20, 2009 11:55am PDT

  Poor snake! Who cares about the child? It was the parents own fault. Yes it is sad there are such ignorant people. Heck, the little yapper chiuhaua down the street mauled a 18 month old, and killed it. The dog wasn't put down. If a rottie did it, it would have been killed on the spot? Prejudice much? Media? Ignorance? A-holes around the world and human race ruining it throught there nasty little unnatural cruddy thought process?

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