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Canada gaboon viper bite issues
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by tigers9 on November 2, 2008
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This is the perfect example how media spreads fear when they do not get their facts straight. The interview with the owner (1st article below) clearly states the snake was locked after incident and not loose (not that it would matter as it is too frigging cold in Canada for any snake to survive outside now anyway). The second article below assumes the snake was loose and the diatribe goes on from there. Media needs to be more responsible and get the facts instead of spreading hysteria and fear mongering.
Z
http://www.winnipegsun.com/News/Winnipeg/2008/11/02/7278691-sun.html
Sun, November 2, 2008
Snake buff has regrets
Sorry for causing fear
By ROB NAY, SUN MEDIA + Help
Brown has recovered from the potentially fatal bite of the gaboon viper. (C. PROCAYLO/Sun Media)
A man who almost died after one of the world's most venomous snakes bit him in the face told the Winnipeg Sun he's sorry for the fear the incident caused.
"I wanted to put out an apology to the public and my friends and family for the scare," said Gerry Brown, 32.
On Oct. 19, Brown was bitten on the bottom lip by a West African gaboon viper, which was in his possession at the time in Winnipeg.
GOT TOO CLOSE
"I was just a little overconfident and complacent and went to take some pictures and messed up," he said, adding the snake had been in his possession for just over a month.
Brown, an snake enthusiast for more than 10 years, was taking pictures of the snake outside its cage when he said he got too close to the normally docile snake, which bit him on the lip.
"She just nipped me," he said.
He quickly locked it back up in its cage and began trying to squeeze the venom out of his lip.
"I was definitely panicky, but you want to keep your heart rate as calm as possible so the venom doesn't spread," said Brown.
He called his girlfriend and she drove him to the hospital, where he told staff what had happened.
Brown's lip had swollen considerably and he later blacked out.
Hospital staff worked to save his life while friends contacted Bry Loyst, the owner of a reptile zoo in Ontario who co-ordinated the shipment of antivenin used to treat and save Brown from death.
"I'm very thankful for how they treated me," he said.
Brown's friends destroyed the snake after the incident, Brown said.
He had bought the animal a few weeks before from a man he met.
"I think they're a beautiful snake. I still do," Brown said. "I do not blame the snake -- I blame myself."
The creature itself was less than a year old and measured about 12 inches.
"I named her Daisy. I thought if she ever catches me I'll be pushing up daisies," said Brown.
He said he owned snakes in the past and took precautions to keep Daisy locked up and carefully handled her prior to the recent bite attack.
After only two days in hospital, Brown was released.
RATTLESNAKE
"I've got a minor scar in my lip but that's it, thank God," he said.
About eight years ago Brown was bitten by a rattlesnake and he said the recent encounter with another venomous snake has changed his mind forever about owning them. "I'm retired from owning snakes," said Brown.
He now faces a possible fine for violating a bylaw restricting or prohibiting exotic creatures in Winnipeg.
"I made a bad decision," said Brown.
http://www.winnipegsun.com/News/Columnists/Pursaga_Joyanne/2008/11/02/7277701-sun.html
Sun, November 2, 2008
Let's get serious about our pet scofflaws
By JOYANNE PURSAGA
When it comes to pets, why is it that owners seem to think the love of a cuddly friend or exotic creature supersedes the law?
Winnipeg has made international headlines over the past two weeks since a deadly West African gaboon viper lashed out and bit its owner in the face, causing a near fatal wound.
Fortunately, the 31-year-old victim received extensive medical care that saved his life in what could have become a preventable tragedy.
He's clearly lucky to be alive, since the venom of this deadly snake, which boasts the longest fangs and greatest venom yield of any African snake, can kill a human within minutes of a single strike.
Perhaps the man had a very compelling reason to own the snake. It may have been an animal he had a lifelong interest in, or perhaps even a unique form of companion.
Even if the man is guilty of knowingly violating the city's exotic pet bylaw by housing the snake inside city limits, the serious injury he sustained may be enough to prevent him from repeating his alleged offence.
He is now charged with violating the bylaw, which could lead to a fine of up to $1,000, if he is proven guilty.
Some may feel adding a civil charge after this injury is a little harsh, given the fact this man may still be recovering.
But the case offers a great example of why the city should enforce its ban on exotic pets, since the second the snake was believed to be loose in the community, the risk went far beyond the owner himself.
"No wild animal truly is (predictable) and so I guess you have to look at the consequences," Tim Dack, chief operating officer of Winnipeg's animal services division, told the Canadian Press last week. "It's one thing to own a small exotic snake that's not venomous and not a constrictor. A mistake may not cost you your life, or the life of a child or of a neighbour or whoever."
DEFIANCE
There remains a chance the man didn't even know owning this species of snake was prohibited by the city's exotic pet bylaw.
And whether he's guilty or innocent, the charge sends an important public message that defiance, even in the case of pet bylaws, won't be tolerated. One may wonder what the purpose of such a dangerous pet is, especially after the 10-day period when Winnipeggers were left to fear the snake could still be slinking loose through the city.
The wave of fear that spread when the deadly animal couldn't be located also supports the city's ban on venomous snakes.
Winnipeg Police assigned a team of detectives to ensure the snake wasn't a slithering public safety threat.
On Wednesday, police revealed there is strong evidence the snake was killed shortly after it attacked on Oct. 19.
A great deal of resources was also spent by our health-care system to nurse this man back to health, including the fly-in delivery of an antivenin from Toronto.
Pet bylaw enforcement may be especially important in Winnipeg, which has no shortage of devoted animal lovers.
If this week's outcry about the supposed plan to euthanize Reno, a retired canine officer of the police force, is any indication, big-hearted Winnipeggers are quick to defend any perceived threat to the rights of an animal.
FLUFFY LAW
Even after Winnipeg Police insisted the plan was never actually in place, residents continued joining the perceived fight to save the pooch.
Likewise, when the Winnipeg Humane Society championed the "Fluffy Law" this summer, a motion that would force all Manitoba apartment landlords to allow their tenants to keep pets, hundreds eagerly jumped on the bandwagon to lobby for the new law.
Unfortunately, many supporters gave little thought to the landlords who would have no choice but to put up with critters' scratches, stains and noise pollution, which they previously had the power to prevent.
The level of good will our city residents extend to pets can be heart-warming.
But when that passion conflicts with the law, civic or criminal, the rules meant to keep our communities safe must be enforced.
If there is enough evidence that someone has put their community at risk for the sake of having a "cool" pet, then that person must be charged to deter other Winnipeggers from following down the same path.
-With files from The Canadian Press
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RE: Canada gaboon viper bite issues
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by Cro on November 4, 2008
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Z, you state
"Media needs to be more responsible and get the facts instead of spreading hysteria and fear mongering"
That will never happen again in this country. Ethics in journalism is dead.
Right now I am watching the prez elections, and even the supposed "fair and balanced" Fox news is racing to call the winner of certain States first, even when only a tiny persentage of the votes in those States are accounted for.
This is a disservice to folks who are still voting in Western States ! I would sure love to see a couple of those States that they called so early turn around and bite them in the arse when all the votes are counted !
Ethical Journalism is dead, dead, dead.........
Best Regards John Z
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