(ATTENTION CANADIANS!) Snake Bite Needs Government Attention

[CharlieJ]

Snake Bite Needs Government Attention
CCNMatthews.com
Attention: Assignment Editor, City Editor, News Editor, Government/Political Affairs Editor

TORONTO, ONTARIO, MEDIA RELEASE--(CCNMatthews - Sept. 13, 2006) - The provincial government needs to implement standards so another person isn't bitten by a venomous snake. The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) says the man recently bitten by a venomous snake Tuesday night, just goes to show there's a need for more regulations to protect the welfare of the animals and protect people from getting hurt or potentially dying.

"The government is willing to ban pit bulls, so why are people still allowed to keep deadly venomous snakes in their homes?" said Josey Kitson, Project Manager. "The friend was reckless in allowing the 26-year-old man to get that close to a venomous snake and poke it. Either he doesn't know enough about dangerous reptiles or he wasn't paying attention."

The WSPA says there is a gaping whole in provincial legislation and to ensure this doesn't happen again it's pushing for captive wildlife regulations. WSPA believes that dangerous animals, including venomous snakes should only be kept legitimate wildlife sanctuaries and that standards should be in place for their care.

"Right now you can keep a tiger, lion, monkey or a venomous snake in your backyard without a license, or having to follow any government regulations," said Kitson.

Theses animals are not only dangerous and deadly, but they suffer by being kept in fish tanks and plastic tubs with little to do. These are hunting animals. In the wild they're found in complex environments that allow them to manoeuvre through tress, swim in water and hunt for their food.

Because these bites are uncommon, no Canadian hospital stocks antivenin for the many highly venomous exotic snakes.

Side Notes:
The most recent case reported on of a person being bitten by a snake goes back to 2001, when an Ontario man was bitten by his pet viper. In 1995, a 23-year-old Edmonton man was attacked by his 5 metre long python. And in 1992, a Brampton man was killed by his python and a BC man died after being bitten by an Egyptian cobras.

[CharlieJ]

Barrie Man Bitten By Snake
Sep, 13 2006 - 3:50 AM

TORONTO - A man is in a Barrie hospital after being bitten by a friend's venomous pet snake. The 26-year-old is in stable condition. He was bitten on the right thumb by a deadly saw-scaled viper.

Doctors will keep an eye on him to gauge the effects of the venom, but say he should be O-K, just a bit sore. The man was ``lucky' he was bitten on the thumb because the farther away from the heart and large blood vessels, the better.

A snake expert was rushed from a Peterborough reptile zoo with antivenin in a provincial police cruiser in case he is needed. He says the victim bothered the snake and that's why he was bitten.

[VoodooChile]

I forwarded this to a couple of sites, hopefully the right people read it before a complete ban is put into place.