Posted on 12/17/2006 8:56:06 PM PST by stainlessbanner
CINCINNATI - A 13-foot boa constrictor wrapped itself around its owner's neck and killed the man in his home, authorities said.
An acquaintance found Ted Dres, 48, inside the snake's cage Saturday and called police, the Hamilton County Sheriff's office said.
The snake was still strangling Dres when deputies arrived, and the officers had to work with members of an animal protection group to remove the reptile, the sheriff's office said.
Dres' snake will be kept at an animal shelter awaiting instructions from police or Dres' family, said Andy Mahlman, spokesman for the Cincinnati Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
"People who keep these type of animals as pets should know exactly what they're doing and what they're capable of," Mahlman said.
He said he has seen photographs of reptile owners posing with snakes coiled around their necks.
"They don't realize they could be a few seconds away from death," he said.
Another winner of the DARWIN award.
OOOOOO.....macho Man not so Macho anymore!
An animal protection group? Doesn't sound like the animal needed protecting.
I like snakes. I had a few pet snakes as a kid. But some people are just morons - you just DON'T keep something that big around where it could hurt someone. On the one hand I feel sorry for the guy - on the other hand I'm glad that his dumb ass is the only one to die from his stupidity.
That caught my eye as well. Just shoot the snake.
I always had snakes, too - but none that would harm me more than a small cut. Had a friend die from a rattlesnake bite (he was hand feeding in the cage). Never, never would I keep lethal snakes in the home.
Darwin strikes again!
Snake people, yuck!
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