We Save Dogs Snakes You'd Rather See Dead?

When you think of Olympic Animal Sanctuary, you probably think of pit bulls, but the truth is we're not a pit bull rescue. We're not even strictly a dog rescue; since the very beginning our mission has been to provide sanctuary to all types of animals. We may not have the facility required to house tigers or elephants (not yet, anyway) but we've always had reptiles here. Our latest rescue is this ten-foot Burmese python, shown sleeping on her new basking shelf in the sixty square foot enclosure she shares with a pond full of aquatic turtles.

Our stance on the reptile trade is that snakes and all other reptiles are wild animals and should not be bought, sold, imported, exported, bred or otherwise exploited for the pet trade. Millions of reptiles enter the United States every year, millions more are exported, and breeding for the exotic pet trade is ever on the rise. Most disturbing is the breeding of 'designer reptiles' -- animals selected for unnatural patterns and colors that would be a death sentence in the wild. Also alarming is the popularity of giant species, like the python above who might one day reach twenty feet in length, and venomous species, often referred to by hobbyists as 'hot'. Unfortunately, because their care is so much more involved than that of the average dog or cat, most captive reptiles die long before their time.

We understand why people are fascinated by reptiles, and if you are qualified to care for them in your home, we encourage you to get involved in reptile rescue, just like the people who saved our python did. The children who originally purchased her tried to hide her from their parents, but one day when she escaped from the box they kept her in, mom and dad found her and tried to chop her in half. Fortunately she survived and a loving family in Eatonville, WA nursed her to health and cared for her until they felt she would soon be too large for them to safely keep her. They did the responsible thing and found placement for her before she became a problem. Here at the Sanctuary she enjoys all the things snakes love: warm basking sites, dark hiding places, the occasional swim, and a big meal every few weeks.

Posted on January 10, 2010