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

From the Community…

• 
  Posted by KerryQ Thu Jul 2, 2009 10:58pm PDT

  So...? Dogs are known to kill too... A lot of people have dogs. (And I am talking all dogs- not just pits and rotties.) Although granted, dogs can be trusted with kids a bit more. I wouldn't own a snake if you paid me, but I thought I would play devil's advocate and mention dogs.

  Accidents happen. When my husband was three, he was playing on a truck, and fell off. He landed on the family's elderly dog, and snapped the poor thing's spine. She grabbed his face in her jaws and shook him like a rag doll. They had to put the poor thing out of her misery, and he needed stitches. That dog hadn't been aggressive a day in her life until then, and he remembers her fondly. It was just a horrible accident.

  Report Abuse
• 
  Posted by wengski Fri Jul 3, 2009 12:26am PDT

  Whoever think wild animals can stay with humans? Aren't they supposed to be in the wild and?

  Report Abuse
• 
  Posted by Monica Fri Jul 3, 2009 1:02am PDT

  Sure, accidents happen and I am sure that somewhere out there there are reports of a small child being killed by Fluffy the 15 year old blind kitty cat. However, having a huge silent predator like that in the same home as small children? Not very responsible but that is just my opinion. I am also of the opinion that big snakes like that should be left in the wild, surely they can't be happy living in a box and getting fed dead animals once in a while. Want to enjoy pythons and boas? Go to the zoo.

  Report Abuse
• 
  Posted by wildchild Fri Jul 3, 2009 4:36am PDT

  OH, THIS IS JUST HORRIFIC! IF THAT HAD HAPPENED TO MY CHILD THEY WOULD HAVE TO PUT ME IN THE BOOBY HATCH CAUSE THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN WAY TOO MUCH FOR ME. HOW TERRIBLY SAD.

  Report Abuse
• 
  Posted by Scott's wife Fri Jul 3, 2009 4:46am PDT

  It was an accident. The snake should have been fed more often and it would have never happened.

  Report Abuse
• 
  Posted by Sandra Fri Jul 3, 2009 4:46am PDT

  i don,t think people should be allowed to have such things as snakes in their home or around their home. what,s wrong with the world today. that poor baby, never had a chance.

  Report Abuse
• 
  Posted by Sandra Fri Jul 3, 2009 4:55am PDT

  i don,t think people should be allowed to have such things as snakes in their home or around their home. what,s wrong with the world today. that poor baby, never had a chance.

  Report Abuse
• 
  Posted by Sandra Fri Jul 3, 2009 4:55am PDT

  i don,t think people should be allowed to have such things as snakes in their home or around their home. what,s wrong with the world today. that poor baby, never had a chance.

  Report Abuse
• 
  Posted by oohay Fri Jul 3, 2009 5:15am PDT

  Kerry- dogs have been domesticated through 100's of year of breading and have a degree of intellect; they don’t act on instinct alone. Dogs can be dangerous and if yours shows signs of aggression at all you should put it down. But owning a dog and a python are not equivalent.

  Keeping animals with thousands of years of instinct to be a predator breed into them (ie. Snakes, Tigers, Bears) is pretty stupid. They are born killers and what is the point of trying to domesticate them? Just so you can be different to live in the same house as a smelly beast? This is child endangerment and these parents should be charged.

  Report Abuse
• 
  Posted by SardoNumspar Fri Jul 3, 2009 5:22am PDT

  Look people this is simple common sense. Who do you love more, your animal or your child? The 2 things just can't coexist, especially when it is a dangerous wild animal. Even a dangerous domestic animal. I live near Baltimore city. Do you know how many small children have had their faces chewed off by the family pitbull and rottweiler down there? The point is that you have to make a choice. It sucks but its just the way it is. No matter how gentle and tame you may think an animal is, do you really want to take this chances with your kids that the animal might just snap?

  Let's not forget that whether domestic or wild, these are animals. They rely on instinct and react instinctivly. It is their nature. We need to stop forcing the coexistence of humans and these obviously dangerous animals in close proximity. Somebody always gets hurt, especially the little ones.

  Report Abuse