Dangers of Keeping Exotic Pets

Pet Snake Kills Young Child

A huge pet Burmese python escaped from its cage and killed a two year old, named Shaiunna. The little girl had sadly already passed away by the time paramedics arrived at the Florida home. The snake's owner, who was the boyfriend of Shaiunna's mother, discovered that the snake, which was 2.4 metres long, was missing from its tank and rushed into the child's room.

He found the snake on the child and there were bite marks on her head. The boyfriend stabbed the snake until he was able to pry the child away from the snake. The man did not have a permit for his pet python. He has not been charged with anything as yet. Investigators are looking into the number of laws broken in this case to establish whether they will prosecute. This tragic case surely highlights the importance of being aware that animals will act upon instinct; even the most careful pet owner needs to be aware that animal behaviour can be unpredictable and must never be taken for granted.

Burmese pythons are not native to Florida, but they can easily survive in the wild and a population of Burmese pythons has taken hold in the Everglades. It is also believed that some owners of pet pythons have set them free in the wild. Scientists also believe that a number of Burmese pythons escaped in 1992 from pet stores that were battered by Hurricane Andrew. The US Humane Society said that this tragic incident brings the total of people killed in the US by pet pythons to at least 12 since 1980, including five children.

In Britain, keepers of exotic and potentially dangerous animals are required not only to licence their pets but also to ensure they have adequate liability insurance in place. Pet ownership carries a whole host of responsibilities, not least the protection and welfare of both the animal and other people.

Pet insurance for household animals such as cats and dogs should be a serious consideration for the responsible pet owner; providing peace of mind should the unthinkable happen.