Snake Stories Continue to Emerge in Canada

Snake seizures in Brantford, Ontario and Mission, British Columbia lead the news across Canada during the past 24 hours. 

In Brantford, a branch of the Ontario SPCA seized more than 40 pythons stored in plastic containers. The occupants of the motel room were not present when officers attended to preserve public safety. Pythons are not legal in that municipality.

In Mission, British Columbia, the British Columbia SPCA discovered more than 100 snakes in a rented bungalow. Almost 50 illegal pythons were among this collection. All were seized and euthanized to preserve public safety. 

In other municipalities, like Hamilton, public safety officials are intervening in episodes were snakes may have been abandoned. These emerging snake stories have stimulated online comments and public interviews that show a spectrum of public responses from the fearful to the curious.

Yet to emerge is an industry response that includes an amnesty or assisted surrender program that can be accessed by breeders or pet owners. The focus on legislative reviews and discussion seems to have greater priority for the moment. Are snakes bearing this attention, negative publicity, abandonment and euthanasia without someone to speak for them? A review of the content so far, suggests this may be the case.

Brantford Seizure

Mission Seizure

Reptile Breeding

Are Exotic Pet Bans an Appropriate Answer??

The New Brunswick python attack has stimulated Urban Animal conversations across North America. In an effort to make this conversation available across the industry, InfoStream will open a new conversation in the Urban Animal Group area of LinkedIn. Here are some of the ideas and thoughts collected so far:

• Talk of municipal bans aimed at exotic pets has prompted a PIJAC Canada Blog
• A conversation involving municipal enforcement has undertaken the review of exotic pet legislation to understand if dangerous animals may be removed from a premises without charging the pet owner.
• A conversation has developed around an 'amnesty program' to be delivered by members of the local community such as pet retailers, humane, rescue and veterinary organizations that would allow non-compliant or dangerous animals to be surrendered in a manner safe for both people and pets.

Please join the conversation as you are able. These contributions will be made available to Summit 2013 Directors, Dr. Jason Coe and Dr. Drew VanNiekerk so they can be included in the onsite conversations.