"Junior" was saved by my husband ~ when he had stopped in the local garage to see old friends, one of the men told him he knew some people with a Burmese Python who not only no longer wanted it, but wanted to "get rid of it" ASAP...or the husband would kill it. You see, this baby python had made the fatal mistake of acting like "a baby python". Kept in a wooden box, attached to the wall with shelf barckets, with no light, heat or water ~ his 13 year old "owner" had been playing with some of the mice he was raising and then decided to reach in the dark box to play with his little Burmese. Unfortunately the young python thought this was an incoming mouse lunch and bit the child. With a mother that already hates snakes and a father that immediately decided the snake should be fatally punished for the heinous crime, they couldn't get him out of that house fast enough. On hearing this story my husband called the family to arrange to pick the snake up. Bringing leather gloves and a snake hook, he went to the house. Not only were it's conditions deplorable, he had to get a flashlight to even be able to see inside the enclosure! When he did pull him out...to his surprise it was a 4 month old hatchling! Just a little fellow! The people rushed him out of the house, waiving the "twenty" dollars they wanted for him, saying "never mind the money, just get it out of here"! That night, when I got home from work, I reached right down to pick him up, laughing, that this was the big monster that had that family terrified! His eyes had to be repeatedly wiped due to the crust of mite feces around the rims. He had more mites than we had ever personally seen on a snake. (Many, many thanks go out to Bob Pound of Pro-Products for his excellent product, Provent-A-Mite!!) Now with heat, light, water, no more bugs, and a full belly...he is a gentle, fat baby. We are enjoying working with him, as we have never had a Burmese. The spirit of Christmas and compassion for all creatures is alive and well again.
12/28/99 Update:
We are happy to announce that one of our fellow herp society members has contacted us to adopt this little Burm. He and his family have experience with the large snake species and a real love for them. We are grateful to him and his family ~ and the little Burm who visited us will be in Good Hands! Thank you Jim!
UPDATE: June 2000, This little python is thriving under the good care of Jim's daughter Rhiannon. She has named her "Satin" and they are very happy with her! |
