Man 'walking' his python arrested

MASTIC, N.Y., Jan. 16 (UPI) -- A man in Mastic, N.Y., taking a 14-foot Burmese python for a "walk" was arrested and lost custody of the snake to animal control officials.

Shawn Dunn of the Suffolk Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals spotted a man walking along Montauk Highway on Long Island Tuesday with the 70-pound, 14-year-old snake coiled around his body, Newsday reported.

Such large reptiles are illegal in New York state, and Curtis Dewberry, 35, was charged with animal cruelty and failure to protect the public against dangerous wildlife, both misdemeanors, the report said.

The cruelty charge stemmed from the fact it was cold outside and Burmese pythons require a minimum 45 degrees to live. The snake also had bruises on its body, the SPCA reported.

Police said it was possible Dewberry also might face state environmental charges for not having a license to keep a dangerous animal. Pythons can inflict severe bites before suffocating prey.

Dewberry told the SPCA he fed the snake a whole chicken once a month, the report said.

The python was sent to an out-of-state reptile habitat.