Suffolk Man Bitten by His Illegal Pet Rattlesnake
The Suffolk County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals reported Tuesday that a Suffolk man has been hospitalized after one of his two pet rattlesnakes bit him.
The Suffolk SPCA said the 22-year-old will likely be in the hospital for a week while he recovers and has likely suffered permanent injuries.
Officers with the Suffolk SPCA and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation retrieved the rattlesnake and sent it to a reptile sanctuary.
“Abandoned and dangerous reptiles and amphibians have become an all too common occurrence here on Long Island,” DEC Region 1 Director Peter A. Scully said. “All too often, individuals do not realize the difficulties and complications that arise from owning one of these animals.”
The Suffolk SPCA holds an amnesty day at least once a year to allow owners of prohibited pets to forfeit the animals without fear of prosecution.