Escaped pet python strangled Fla. child

[swede]

this is horrible. oxford isn't far from here and i've worked there before. what a terrible terrible feeling they must have knowing that this was totally preventable. so sad all around

 

[xEchOx]

this is horrible. oxford isn't far from here and i've worked there before. what a terrible terrible feeling they must have knowing that this was totally preventable. so sad all around

I agree. Horrible feeling knowing that it could have been prevented if the snake were housed properly or just plain given to someone who could handle it safely. Poor kid.

 

[bfhslilred93]

great now pythons are gonna get an even worse reputation. why can't people be responsible. animals getting out can happen to even the best of us if we let down our guard for a second but the owner should still take responsability for his pet

 

[GinBlack]

I have a friend in Florida who breeds snakes for extra money and has owned some large snakes. When he had his first child he built a large shed in the back yard to house the snakes. When his son started walking and getting into things he sold off the larger snakes to prevent a situation such as this one even though the snakes offsite house was not accessable to the child due to heavyduty locks, he would rather not take any chances at all with his child.
Most people these days can not see the big picture past 5 min, that and they brag about owning such an animal and then can not figure out how something like this could happen.

I can't agree more. It's so sad that a child had to die because the adults failed to assume that a wild animal for some reason would not act on instinct if threatened or hungry. I've owned large snakes, and although very docile and use to being handled I never took for granted that they are larger and more powerful than me, and in any given situation their instincts would lead them to do what they felt was best for them.

 

[Jeox]

12 deaths in over 30 years.
That is less than how many people were killed in alabama alone in lightning stirkes in 13 years.
12 people since 1980 makes having a pet python, statistically, much safer than lightning, or chewing on a pencil.

Not that i'm saying pythons are not dangerous and deserving of respect.