10ft snake caught in posh flats

[Glyn]

This gives me the creeps. Haven't been to the loo all day.

A 10ft boa constrictor has been captured after popping up in the loos of a posh block of flats in Manchester.
                             
The snake had terrified tenants since it was first spotted in a toilet last week, reports the Mirror.

It's believed to have been living in sewage pipes for three months after being abandoned by an evicted tenant three months ago.

People had to put bricks on their loo seats to stop the snake, which has been named Keith, slipping into their bathrooms.

Firemen were called in to try to track him down in the pipework but a brave resident of the West Didsbury flats finally trapped him in a bucket.

Keith is now in the care of the RSPCA.

Spokesman Jimmy Ratcliff, an expert on exotic animals, said: "They can swim very well and can hold their breath for more than 20 minutes - though what is out of the ordinary is the size of this snake.

"It has probably been eating rats in the sewer, where it appears to have been living quite happily."
:o :o :o :o

[Glyn]

[Icyberjunkie]

Now that I would like!  A free snake for a pet and worth hundreds of pounds.  This pundit would have had a big cheesy grin if it had visited him..... ;D

[undercarriage plan]

Not if sat on loo at time........ ;D ;D ;D ;)

[Marianne]

Pardon me for mentioning this but it seems to me that the underside of that loo seat has not seen the likes of soapy water/bleach in a long time !  :-X ::) ;)

I would be more scared of touching that seat than the poor snake.  ;) :D

[Heldi]

Haha Marianne I thought the same thing...!! Yeeeuk! Poor snake, being stuck in that.

Why do people buy creatures like snakes and the like when they can't look after them properly? I 've known of so many people who give them up when they grow too big and then get something else just as exotic and/or potentially large.  >:(  Annoys me alot that does.

[Marianne]

I totally agree with you Heldi.    :D

Some people purchase exotic pets without consideration for their future in terms of needs.

Before purchasing a pet of ANY kind, I think we should have to pay a license, say, of £100. 

Then those "to be" pet owners who genuinely think about the future needs of the animal will think of acquiring a pet.

:D ;)

[Heldi]

Interesting point Marianne.

I think a licence might be a good idea for exotic creatures but would it be fair for people on low incomes who love their pets and often live their lives for their animals? I don't know it,it would be a hard one to judge. I'm recalling seeing a documentry about a homeless guy who had a dog. The dog came first in everything he did and he always set aside his pennies for the dog's food,often going without himself.It was quite touching and that dog was looked after and loved just as much as any pampered pet. Think the dog was the man's only friend in the predictment he had found himself in.

What about someone who has lots of pets? Would they have to pay a licence fee for each individual pet? That might be a bit harsh if the animals are well cared for and it might stop people taking in rescue animals.  ?

[Robert_Brenchley]

I'd have wanted to keep the snake (and I do know how to look after them if anyone's wondering), but I can imagine the resulting hysteria! I could never get my head round herpetophobia.

[BAGGY]

I can understand the fear if you have been bought up in a country that has dangerous snakes - like my Oh - but like the spider fear,I don't understand either.  I know it is a learned behaviour but Ihave friends where arachnophobia dominates their lives.  I would have to get help for that I think.

[Marianne]

I can see your point of view Heldi. 

However, in order to make sure future pet owners are inclined to look after their pets in the correct way, I see the idea of a license as a prerequisite in order to stamp out those who only have a temporary interest in the matter and will get rid of their pets soon after they find out it is not that easy a task, i.e. like the owners of this snake.

Maybe there could be a law for little old ladies who obviously would not want to acquire such an exotic animal and would settle for a cat or a dog. 

It is definitely something our government could sit in front and decide on a positive motion, who knows !  There is one certainty and that is there are too many animals roaming our streets or in this particular case, our gutters and loos! ::) :-X

Hope you are having a lovely day !
;) :D ;D

[Heldi]

Hi Marianne....I was stuck indoors today because of the rain  :(, a friend came round so I've been having a natter whilst our two year olds played  :). Then my ex husband knocked on my door and spoiled it  :( 

Hope you've had a much better day!! How is your lovely boat? Are you ready to move in yet?  ;D

[kentishchloe]

I heard something on the news a few weeks ago about there being more than one or two dangerous exotic ex-pets on the 'rampage' in this country - something about a crocodile in a village pond cornwall i believe - makes you think twice about feeding the ducks!!!  :o

[Marianne]

Hiya Heldi !

I am fine thanks but sad to hear you were stuck indoors with your little 2-year old because of this nasty weather.  We have had torrential rain here today too.  But it has all stopped now.

The boat has had its carpets ripped out as well as all the bedding and corner settee (the blue one on the pic).

We are replacing the manky carpet with some nice light laminate wood and the mattress with new stuff.  We will look out for a modern type settee to replace the blue thingy  ::) ;).

Once the flooring is down, we will move on board and start putting things in their place.  Will take some pics when things look a little better.  Thanks for askiing !  ;D

Kentishchloe - I am sure there is more than one crocodile roaming around our rivers and ponds  :-X  Especially with the hot weather we have had, they must be thriving !  I feel sorry for them and the ex owners should be punished for treating them in that fashion.
In fact I saw a small lizard in my garden twice this year and that year !  I am sure they do not grow in the UK as it is too cold here but probably were released in the wild ! It is still hiding in the ivy somewhere !  :P

[kentishchloe]

I agree Marianne - poor crocs :'(

We get loads of lizards in our garden and upon investigating (handy this internet) they turned out to be native lizards- they love sunbathing on my neighbour's comcrete path.

[Robert_Brenchley]

Dunno about crocodiles, but it looks very much as though a number of pumas or something similar were probably released in the '70's when they brought in licensing for dangerous animals. Pumas aren't dangerous to humans incidentally. We may well have a small breeding population as a result.

[GREENWIZARD]

[undercarriage plan]

Supposedly had several sightings of black panther  :o :o :o round our way, will believe it when see it! Can imagine puma, but black panther?? How would that stay hidden so long? And, incidentaly, don't really want answer to that, happy in my denial.....  ;) May prove too traumatic to small, happy brain... Lottie ;D

[fluffygrue]

Yup, that was in our local paper. I don't think it was posh flats, rather more like student-stylee housing, altho it was in Didsbury which does have nice parts..

I'd be absolutely terrified if I found a snake that size in the bathroom.. But I felt very sorry for it, that it was looked after so badly. :(

Melanie

[Robert_Brenchley]

Panther-like animals have been spotted in several areas of the UK. It's quite likely that pumas or something similar were released in the 1970's by owners who didn't want to pay out for a license. they're not dangerous to humans, and there are a lot of highlyt suitable areas round the country, so there could be a small breeding population. They've very shy, and wouldn't be seen very often.