Mobile UPI  |   About UPI  |   UPI en Español  |   UPI Arabic  |   UPIU  |   My Account
Search:
Go

Man 'walking' his python arrested

|
|
 
  
Published: Jan. 16, 2008 at 12:43 PM

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.

Recommended Stories
© 2008 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Any reproduction, republication, redistribution and/or modification of any UPI content is expressly prohibited without UPI's prior written consent.

Order reprints
  
Join the conversation
Most Popular Collections
The making of the Oscars Cheerleaders of 2012 The Chicago Auto Show
The Tibetan Moniam Festival in China The Most Desirable Women of 2012 The best kisses
Additional Odd News Stories
Your Daily Horoscope
The almanac
1 of 30
Valentine's Day Ramallah, West Bank
View Caption
fark
NASA budget slashes Mars funding, leaving future exploration prospects up to a duck with a speech...
The Seedy, Scandalous History of Valentine's Day
Some of the creepiest trees around that you do not want to stumble upon while under the influence...
Buffy the Vampire Slayer is getting an abortion in the Season 9 Comics. All I got was a lump of...
Portland aiming to reduce transit violence with a little bit of the lovely lovely Ludwig Van
Thou shalt not worketh on the Sabbath, unless you receiveth twice and one half pieces of silver....