Puppy Eaten by Snake

[girlrazor]

I just think live feeding to pets is wrong.
You don't buy a chicken or a lamb for your dog to eat because it's "more natural", so I don't understand the necessity of giving snakes live feed.

[Dragonrain]

I don't like when any live animal is fed - even mice or rats.

I don't really have any more emotions for a puppy then I would for a rabbit - esp rabbits because I'm obsessed with them!

But, when frozen rabbits, mice, rats, are fed - it is usually in an attempt to mimic the snake's natural diet as best as possable in captivity. I don't know of any species of snakes that would naturally eat dogs, although I understand that snakes can eat a number of diffrent things.

Even if they did naturally eat dogs, I'm just against live feeding unless it's your only option.

And if that puppy was the guys pet, and he was neglecting the snake, sounds like he just didn't want to take care of the puppy so he fed it to the snake. Too bad he didn't have another pet big enough to eat the snake, because it sounds like he didn't want to take care of that either (yes I'm being sarcastic).

[candyraver]

I only feed frozen& thawed to my snake.You'd be surprised how many prey animals do quite a bit of damage to their "predator".

[Ambieruns10]

Snakes don't eat dogs. I can't even imagine that it is healthy for the snake in the first place. Those who say that there is not difference are silly. While I don't like to see snakes eat other animals, I don't disagree with it. As long as it's someone similar to their natural diet.

[dogslife]

The guy is definitely a jerk or something worse. I am not saying animal abuse doesn't happen or that it shouldn't be prosecuted.

The snake might or might not eat puppies naturally, but most pet owners would not do what he did. It was tasteless on his part. On that I think we all agree. I just don't know the facts on this case enough to condemn him as much as he might deserve.

Quote: candyraver: I only feed frozen& thawed to my snake.You'd be surprised how many prey animals do quite a bit of damage to their "predator".

Not sure I agree with this. Sometimes things can happen, but predators generally survive and keep on eating. As for live vs frozen/thawed feeding, the "prey" still dies so the predator can live. Pre-killed or live was once the same thing, and by feeding the predator is not harmed and continues to be a predator.

There are probably arguments for the "humane" killing of frozen-thawed, but humane is from human. 99% of predators are not human and are more concerned with eating than with a clean kill.

I think the argument of criminality here is based around similar arguments of "taste" and that is what bothers me. The thing that makes this newsworthy is the fact it was a puppy, not that the snake was malnourished, however they determined that.

[Sasami]

Quote: Originally Posted by Ambieruns10 Snakes don't eat dogs. I can't even imagine that it is healthy for the snake in the first place. Those who say that there is not difference are silly. While I don't like to see snakes eat other animals, I don't disagree with it. As long as it's someone similar to their natural diet.

Yeah, but snakes in the wild don't always eat mice and rats either. They eat other rodents, reptiles, amphibians, etc.

The point is...it isn't the wild. In the wild snakes wouldn't be living in glass boxes .

Also, plenty of people feed beef to dogs but wild canines certainly don't eat cows in the wild! Or, not usually .

No, I don't feel dogs are the best diet for snakes. Especially since it would probably get expensive after a while . Just kidding!

But seriously, what upsets me about this story is the fact that many people are freaking out just because it's a puppy when countless rats/mice/rabbits/guinea pigs are fed to snakes every day.

I'm not trying to defend him. He neglected his snake . I just didn't like how the media was using the fact that it was a cute puppy to anger people. It gives reptile owners a bad name...

[candyraver]

I agree with you Sasami.
I'm a reptile owner& I've actually been BANNED from a pet forum because I have pet rats& mice & have a pet snake & on lists for more.
They considered me very inhumane& kept bringing up "oh your probably going to feed your rats& mice to it! youre cruel!!" (not likely,I love my pets & personally wouldn't even breed my own feeders due to attachment issues,i'm not cut out for it).
Beforehand everyone (well almost) considered me decent but get a pet snake& right away you are cruel.

dogslife ,i'm not going to start a debate but from talking to people& what I seen on the internet & recommendations I was told that feeding live can be a game of risk& it's "up to me" if I want to try it.
This isn't a snake in the wild,your taking an animal & in cases throwing it in with another in an enclosure.Rats,mice,majority of animals arent stupid...not saying in all cases a snake will be injured but if someone wants to feed live,let them do it I guess,their business not mine,I'd always feel better feeding frozen/thawed.
I wouldn't even reccommend people feed live.Thats just me.
Snakes have been hurt by their prey in the past on more than one occasion,think about it,in the wild,if they miss an animal... the animal fight back,you got a chance to get away or make another move.You being in an enclosure,make a bad move well then the rat or whatever isn't stupid& theyre going to be thinking "hurt this thing before it hurts me".Thats my theory.
& I wouldn't want it being hung over my head if I was cautioned about feeding live& went then& did it& my pet ended up injured.
In that case it would be my fault.
I choose to feed frozen& thawed.
Haven't said "oh no the animal is dead" I realize that snakes need food to mimic or at least make up for hopefully,what they'd eat in the wild.
I'm not saying feed everything on vegetables or the like.So I know pre-killed & live isnt more "humane or less humane" for the prey...you are basically taking a life before its time...than the latter if you want to mention what was living is now dead.Its still food.I'm content with pet snakes being predators,I love snakes,as I mentioned I'm on the lists for many more.
My point is,I choose to feed frozen/thawed.

I do agree though that the news probably broadcasted it since it WAS a puppy& not a rodent,fish,or the like.
They wanted the shock factor.

I fed my snake today,he eats frozen/thawed adult mice.I wasn't in the headlines anywhere was I?


Also I should mention,everyday there are puppies being born due to those failing to spay or neuter their pets.
If you were to buy or breed pups for snake food it would probably be costly yes...especially since you'd have to keep feeding the mommy dog& shes going to be carrying those pups for a lot longer than a rat would be carrying babies...but the sad sorry truth is,pups are readily available due to those who fail to spay& neuter..they are in animal shelters,being thrown in dumpsters,people are up to their eyeballs in dogs in a lot of cases.

So the fact it was fed a dog,thats just the way we are here.Our society.
Some people eat dogs,remember that guys.
It's just our society.

I'm definately not defending this guy,I am apalled by him neglecting his pets& I havent heard anyone using cooking oil with feeding a snake...ever.
So I don't know what to make of that.
This guy though,getting 90 days? Thats nothing.

The government will be buying food& basically giving him a free place to live for 90 days...rewarding him for his act of animal cruelty.If you want to look at it that way.

[long post,I guess I should apologize].

[ChinnyMom]

[dogslife]

But that is just it. He got 90 days for animal cruelty. How was he cruel? They say the snake was malnourished andthe snake died after it left him. How do you know a snake is malnourished? They don't always feed regularly from what I understand anyway.

I don't get it. Tasteless, definitely. Criminal? I am not sure. I would hate for anyone to go to jail for feeding their snake.

[Sasami]

Quote: Originally Posted by dogslife But that is just it. He got 90 days for animal cruelty. How was he cruel? They say the snake was malnourished andthe snake died after it left him. How do you know a snake is malnourished? They don't always feed regularly from what I understand anyway. I don't get it. Tasteless, definitely. Criminal? I am not sure. I would hate for anyone to go to jail for feeding their snake.

Believe me, you can tell if a snake is malnourished. I've seen it first hand =/. They said it was really skinny when they found it and if I remember correctly something else might've been wrong...? It was originally in the news a while ago so I can't remember .

I'm sure a vet had confirmed the snake's condition.

[Ambieruns10]

Reptile owners give themselves a bad name, not the media. There was no reason to feed a puppy to a snake. None at all.

[dogslife]

Quote: Originally Posted by Sasami Believe me, you can tell if a snake is malnourished. I've seen it first hand =/. They said it was really skinny when they found it and if I remember correctly something else might've been wrong...? It was originally in the news a while ago so I can't remember . I'm sure a vet had confirmed the snake's condition.

It is such an emotionally driven case because of the puppy involved it makes getting facts quite hard.

I could easily see how it could set a precedent for any snake owner that might be dangerous.

But it is a fair sentence with a vet confirmation.

[Dragonrain]

Yeah - it's not dificult to tell when a snake is malnurished, I've seen it too, unfortuantly.

I've also seen a snake close to death after being attacked by the rat that was sapose to be it's dinner. Not a pretty site.

Feeding live food can pose a threat to the reptile. No, it doesn't happen everytime, but it does happen. Most snakes will get use to frozen thawed foods, I would never feed any animal another live animal unless I had no other choice.

There really wasn't any reason to feed a live puppy to a snake. And to cover the puppy in oil and have children come over to watch? It sounds like he was just doing it to be a jerk.

[Sasami]

Quote: Originally Posted by Ambieruns10 Reptile owners give themselves a bad name, not the media. There was no reason to feed a puppy to a snake. None at all.

I don't know what you mean by that. But I certainly hope that you don't think most snake owners are this way...?

Anyways, no, there wasn't a reason. But then again, there isn't a reason to feed a rabbit rather then a guinea pig or vice versa. A puppy probably wasn't a good choice but it's life isn't worth more then any other feeder.

Like I said before, I'm not defending the guy. But people shouldn't get so upset just because it's a puppy. When someone feeds a live rabbit to their snake it's just as wrong but that doesn't make the news...

[candyraver]

Quote: Originally Posted by Ambieruns10 Reptile owners give themselves a bad name, not the media. There was no reason to feed a puppy to a snake. None at all.

Excuse me? I'm a reptile owner & you wish to throw me in with that stereotype as well?

Again,I don't personally know anyone who fed a puppy to a snake.
I don't know of anyone who would feed a puppy to a snake either (in our society it is not the norm)

The case was brought up because this guy was cruel to both the puppy& his snake.That is beyond wrong.This guy was a jerk.
It's not "reptile owners give theirselves a bad name".This is an individual.Don't dare throw me in such a catagory& think I deserve a bad name as well.
This isn't reptile "owners" this is one guy.

& Yes,you can tell no if a snake is malnourished.
& To answer the other question,he should have been charged on two accounts of animal cruelty,
& I can't find any info anywhere that says if he served time for the snake or puppy,sorry .