Keep pet snakes inside: RRPSS

By Nikki Jamieson
Westwind Weekly News

Ridge Regional Public Safety Services is reminding pet owners not to leave their cold-blooded pets outside following a spat of calls regarding the missing pets.

Sgt. Ross Bond of the RRPSS said that they have received two calls about missing pet snakes in recent weeks, which has been unusual for the service. Bond said while the service had a call about a missing snake a few years ago, this was his first time experiencing these calls so close together.

“It was an odd week,” said Bond. “Keep your snakes inside. Don’t take them outside.”

On July 16, RRPSS stated in Facebook post that a Ball Python snake had been lost by it’s owners and has not been located in the immediate vicinity or by the neighbours. It was lost in the area of 100N, 200 block West, and at the time, they weren’t sure just what type of snake it was, so they issued an advisory. As of the morning on July 20, Bond said that the snake was yet to be found.

“The first one was recovered, that snake was recovered,” said Bond. “The second one (the ball python) is still missing.”

“Please do not leave your cold blooded friends outside; especially unattended; and especially in the hot sun without any appropriate shelter,” reads a Facebook post the service posted on July 14. “We understand that many people have good intentions for their pets – but even the best intentions can end poorly for our pets when they’re introduced to environments that they’re not adapted or accustomed to.”

The post also stated that the the Animal Protection Act applies to all domestic animals, and requires you to provide with food, water, veterinary care, and shelter – including protection from injurious heat or cold — to any animal under your care.

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