I Once Rescued an Abandoned Rattler.

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Posted by jr on October 13, 2001 at 12:18:38:

I Once Rescued an Abandoned Rattler / by Joe Rigdon.

Once back in 1986, I was called by the Arlington Animal Control to come out to their pound and pick up a Rattler.

The previous owner had left it in a 10g aquarium with a cheap plastic screen secured with cheap plastic clips and a couple of bricks. Arlington Animal Control picked it up, cage and all, at a vacant apartment. I believe the previous owner had skipped rent, left the Rattler, and was long gone.

Thankfully the Rattler had not escaped and no one was hurt. Arlington Animal Control got my name through NTHS and called me. When I arrived, I discovered it was a baby Prairie Rattle Snake - very venomous.

It had a few Gulf Coast Toads hopping around in it's cage. I assume the previous owner was not only irresponsible on keeping & abandoning the rattler, but also ignorant on what to feed it. Hopefully the Police caught up with this person at a later time.

I filled out some paperwork and took the Prairie Rattle Snake home after tranfering it with a hook to a more professional & secure cage made by Bush Herpetological Supply (Neodesha).

I kept the Prairie Rattlesnake for 5 years and it thrived in a safe environment. It ate hundreds of mice and traveled to many shows inside it's securely bolted shut cage.

Then finally after 5 years, I gave it to a good friend that could also professionally maintain it in a safe manner.

The End.
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I do believe we do needs laws restricting the keeping of venomous snakes by just anybody like the one that abandoned this snake. Please feel free to post any comments & rescue stories you can share.

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Re: I Once Rescued an Abandoned Rattler. Skinner 10/22/01 (0)

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: I Once Rescued an Abandoned Rattler / by Joe Rigdon. : Once back in 1986, I was called by the Arlington Animal Control to come out to their pound and pick up a Rattler. : The previous owner had left it in a 10g aquarium with a cheap plastic screen secured with cheap plastic clips and a couple of bricks. Arlington Animal Control picked it up, cage and all, at a vacant apartment. I believe the previous owner had skipped rent, left the Rattler, and was long gone. : Thankfully the Rattler had not escaped and no one was hurt. Arlington Animal Control got my name through NTHS and called me. When I arrived, I discovered it was a baby Prairie Rattle Snake - very venomous. : It had a few Gulf Coast Toads hopping around in it's cage. I assume the previous owner was not only irresponsible on keeping & abandoning the rattler, but also ignorant on what to feed it. Hopefully the Police caught up with this person at a later time. : I filled out some paperwork and took the Prairie Rattle Snake home after tranfering it with a hook to a more professional & secure cage made by Bush Herpetological Supply (Neodesha). : I kept the Prairie Rattlesnake for 5 years and it thrived in a safe environment. It ate hundreds of mice and traveled to many shows inside it's securely bolted shut cage. : Then finally after 5 years, I gave it to a good friend that could also professionally maintain it in a safe manner. : The End. : ------------------------------------------------- : I do believe we do needs laws restricting the keeping of venomous snakes by just anybody like the one that abandoned this snake. Please feel free to post any comments & rescue stories you can share.

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