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

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  Posted by Bailey R Fri Jul 3, 2009 5:42am PDT

  I own llama's, mini donkey's, mini horses, horses, watussi's and dogs. Any animal at anytime can go wild for many reasons. I was actually attacked by a llama I hand raised, his mate had her baby and died when we went to seperate him from the baby, he broke my collar bone, my entire jaw was destroyed, broke most of my ribs,my left hip and right leg and two days prior to the attack, he was in a show and had never shown any signs of aggression. He was put down right after the attack. The responsibility of pet ownership requires keeping visitors and yourself safe. When my son was young, I never let him go in any pasture without an adult. You don't have pets in the house that are not domesticated period..

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  Posted by Susan Fri Jul 3, 2009 5:42am PDT

  Wild animals shouldn't be kept as pets. They are WILD, unlike domesticated cats and dogs that were bred to be companion animals. Leave wild animals alone, for the safety of humans and for the good of the animal species.

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  Posted by Randy Fri Jul 3, 2009 5:46am PDT

  How many reports do you ever hear about a python killing a child? Not many I would be willing to guess, now on the other had how many times do you hear about a dog mauling or killing a child. If you don't like snakes then don't get one but don't get on some fanatical view that snakes should be outlawed! Guess what, maybe a little supervision of both snake and child would have been appropriate also.

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  Posted by Lucky Fri Jul 3, 2009 6:22am PDT

  Oh please! Anyone who would have a baby in the same house with a snake is an example of Dumb & Dumber. It's criminally irresponsible. I love dogs but you do not have a Big dog around children. Where is the common sense people?

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  Posted by Mommadukes Fri Jul 3, 2009 6:22am PDT

  This is so very very sad. Anyone who has kept pythons or boas as pets known damn well that they can swallow a small child. Having one in your home when a small child lives there is a very big responsibility. They have been known to eat small dogs and cats for god sakes. I am sure this was nothing more than an accident but my god. When I became pregnant with my 1st child I had a cat that I nursed from new born abandoned by its mother. Had it for a couple years but knew that it was wild. It would jump up the walls, scratch people (other than myself) when they tried to pet it, etc. I found a new home for the cat prior to delivery, one without children. My prays go out to this family for their loss. These types of animals do not belong in homes with small children and people without the proper training and facilities to keep them should be barred from owning them. Thus, this is why licensing is in place.

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  Posted by Tyler G Fri Jul 3, 2009 6:43am PDT

  My heart and prayers go out to the mother of this child.

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  Posted by mochasista Fri Jul 3, 2009 7:11am PDT

  Anyone that compares a dog to a python is an idiot.Dogs have been domesticated,pythons have not and can never be domesticated.This is a prime example of way people should have to take a test before they have kids.

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  Posted by another hockey fan Fri Jul 3, 2009 7:23am PDT

  I agree with some of the other posts. Snakes and kids don't mix. If you must own them, live by yourself so that when it decides to attack, it will attack you.

  Oohay said: "Dogs can be dangerous and if yours shows signs of aggression at all you should put it down." Why can't we do the same thing with criminals? We are a society that loves our dogs but just because they can't talk, we do away with them if they are bad. I think we would be saving so many innocent lives if we just did this to criminals.

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  Posted by Lilly C Fri Jul 3, 2009 7:49am PDT

  Kerry, your post is a wonderful example of not being able to think logically. The snake did not kill the child by "accident". The snake was not provoked by an injury, as was the dog in your pseudo-example. Snakes in general do not have thousands of years of history as helpers and peaceful co-existers with humans, as dogs do. Have you no compassion for the child, who had the breath squeezed out of her while sleeping in her own crib? IMO, you have the brain and the heart of a snake. I hope you have no childen and never have any, as your attitude towards child safety would put them in instant danger, just by being in the same residence.

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  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!!!!

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