Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, January 12, 1994 TAG: 9401130028
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: By MARA LEE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Medium
That's what nearly a dozen university students and owners of large snakes had to say about Radford City Council's proposed ordinance banning snakes more than 3 feet long, as well as other exotic pets.
The ordinance, first read on Nov. 21, was written by City Attorney John ``Bunny'' Spiers, who said at that meeting, ``I'm scared of 1-inch snakes.'' The Police Department requested action, because snakes seem to have been popping up in the oddest places.
Last summer some residents saw a guy downtown with a 4-foot snake wrapped around his neck, said Deputy Chief Jonny Butler. Another snake escaped from its home into a local factory. Production was slowed slightly for a week, because employees became extra cautious when looking into dark corners. ``Everybody was kind of on edge,'' Butler said wryly.
The incident that hit closest to home for the department was when an officer stopped a car for a traffic violation, and a snake's head poked out the window. ``[It] caused a little concern on the part of the officer,'' Butler said.
Chip Reves, cqa long-time Radford resident, student and employee of Classy Critters, a downtown pet shop, showed up at the meeting Monday night to protest the ban on large snakes. ``It's certainly natural for people to fear snakes, but it's not like in the movies. They can't like swallow you alive or anything like that.''
Alex Nelson, owner of Classy Critters, brought a petition with more than 335 signatures protesting the ban. As a licensed pet shop, Critters would be exempt. But Nelson asked what good would it be to stock boa constrictors and pythons if no one could buy them?
``When we sell them, they're like babies,'' he said of his snakes. But within six months, they grow to 3 feet.
Nelson estimated that 30 percent to 40 percent of his business comes from sales of large snakes and lizards and the mice and rats that owners feed them, along with cages and accessories.
The ordinance is wide-reaching, and states: ``It shall be unlawful for any person to keep, harbor, maintain or have in his, her or its possession and control within the city of Radford any poisonous reptile or any other animal or reptile of wild, vicious or dangerous propensities.'' It specifically lists constrictor snakes, such as boas and pythons.
Dawnetta Davis owns Jake the Iguana, a large vegetarian lizard (hers likes kale) that grows past the size limit. She defended reptiles' lovable nature. ``They're quiet, they don't make any noise. He likes to sit on the couch with us and watch TV.''
Reves pointed out that the larger reptiles do recognize their owners, but added, ``They're not going to come up to you when you call.''
Council asked owners to suggest revisions to the ordinance and suggested a compromise such as a cage law, requiring snakes to be confined in public or in cars.
Butler said that would be fine with the Police Department. ``I can understand why somebody would want to keep a unique pet as long as they keep it to themselves.
``Some people are really deathly afraid of snakes, and I'm one of those people,'' Butler said. ``I consider the only good snake a dead snake. It may be ignorance, [but] I do not intend to go through any sensitivity training for that.''
by CNB