After large cache of exotic animals discovered, borough officials may move to regulate ownership
By P.J. D’Annunzio, Staff Writer, KennettTimes.com
After a borough man was biten by his pet rattlesnake, similar to this animal pictured, borough officials are readying an ordinance controlling the number and kind of exotic animals that can be kept as pets.
KENNETT SQUARE — After a borough man was bitten by a poisonous snake and it was discovered he had a virtual zoo of exotic reptiles in his apartment, a fact unknown to his landlord or borough authorities, changes could be coming to regulate ownership of such pets.
On Nov. 22, the man (whose name has not been disclosed) was bitten on the hand by a rattlesnake he kept as a pet in his apartment on the 100 block of West State Street. He was immediately transported to Einstein Medical Center for treatment of the venomous snake bite. Physicians expect he will make a full recovery.
Unknown to the owner of the building or Borough Officials, the victim was in possession of numerous exotic pets. When Kennett Police entered the residence, they promptly discovered the man’s collection, which included eight snakes, four of which were venomous, a 14-foot constricting python, three non-venomous snakes, two monitor lizards, and a small alligator. Police were able to clear the building of the animals with the assistance of herpetologists from the Philadelphia area.
“The poisonous animals have been taken to the Philadelphia Zoo. Another subject removed the remaining animals and transported them to a local reptile shelter” said investigating officer Corporal Richard Bell.
Though the man was legally entitled to possess the animals via permit from The Pennsylvania Wildlife Commission, the incident has sparked a discussion over the wisdom and the legality of keeping exotic—and potentially dangerous—pets in domestic settings. Borough Officials are currently in the process of drafting an ordinance the would prohibit the ownership of exotic animals within Kennett Square’s limits.
“Our concern was that there were more poisonous snakes in a location we were unaware of. People are allowed to have whatever they’re legally entitled to, but if one of those snakes had escaped we’d be facing a serious problem,” Bell said, referencing the potential danger of an escaped, venomous reptile in Kennett Square.
Kennett Square Borough manager Brant Kucera called the ownership dangerous animals within Borough limits “an unacceptable risk” and claimed that officials should have a finalized ordinance regarding exotic animal ownership by January or shortly thereafter.
