Pets in the paper – gotcha, gator!
Check out these animal stories in The Oklahoman today -
- Gator removed from home. (McAlester)
- Animal groups seek share of inheritance. (New York)
Also, check out this amazing story that was posted to NewsOK.com this morning: Dog wakes up man and alerts him to house fire in The Village. Here’s a video:
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
All hail the scales!
If you’re into things that hop, slither or hang out under a shell, check out this event from 7:30 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. Thursday at the Midwest City Library, 8143 E Reno.
Come join the Oklahoma City Herpetological Society on the first Thursday of each month at the Midwest City Library! If you are interested in reptiles and amphibians, these meetings are for you. The OCHS promotes the scientific study and conservation of herps, emphasizing regional herpetology. This is your chance to learn about herps, and even show off your own. Any properly caged, nonvenomous reptiles or amphibians are welcome. For more information, call Larry Daniel at 737-8331, or send him an e-mail at jostoy1@aol.com.
The event is free and open to all ages.
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Pets in the paper – pigs catch their own flu
Check out these animal stories in The Oklahoman since Saturday -
- Zoo draws 12,000 with free admission. (Oklahoma City)
- Victim’s family seeks justice. (Shawnee, video below)
- Aquarium raises funds for turtle exhibit. (Tulsa, story on the right side of the page)
- Wild horse bill faces uncertainty in Senate. (Washington, D.C.)
- Red bugs could be in your next bite. (nationwide)
- Swine flu ills in pigs are feared. (Argentina)
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Pets in the paper – It’s 9 a.m. Do you know where your cattle are?
Check out these animal stories in The Oklahoman today -
- Work continues to build sheriff’s substation at zoo. (Oklahoma City)
- Zoo plans free day. (Oklahoma City)
- Pet Tales: Neighbors share a meal. (Edmond)
- Blood donors to get zoo tickets. (Moore)
- Rate of cattle rustling has doubled since 2008. (statewide)
- Five black bears killed. (Utah)
- Love for turtles not shell game. (nationwide)
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Pets in the paper – training pandas or puppies
Check out these animal stories in The Oklahiesoman today -
- Raids hit dogfighting rings. (statewide)
- Turtles slow plane traffic. (New York)
- Three hurt in running of the bulls. (Spain, page 9a)
- Horse races spur 12 arrests. (Guymon)
- Unusual surgery saves hound. (Edmond)
- Frog races have kids leaping for joy. (Oklahoma City)
- Training tips similar for pets, zoo animals. (nationwide)
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Pets in the paper – Rocket is pretty fast
Check out these animal stories in The Oklahoman today -
- Namibia OKs seal hunt. (Africa)
- Rocket the tortoise zooming to Tulsa. (Kansas)
- Widows say city failed to clear airport of birds. (Oklahoma City)
- Poultry case moves forward. (Tulsa)
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Pets in the paper – Bom Bom’s backache
Goodness! We have a lot of stuff to catch up on since we all left for the holiday weekend. Check out these animal stories in The Oklahoman since Friday -
- Bugs cause mighty problem on road. (Enid)
- Historic role awaits cattle group’s leader. (Waurika)
- Turtle Obama heads to sea. (Florida)
- Gorilla’s back pain is a medical mystery. (Oklahoma City)
- Zoos plan to reunite two sea lion brothers. (Tulsa, Oklahoma City)
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Responsible snake ownership
An unfortunate story out of Florida last week brings up an issue I feel very strongly about — responsible snake ownership.
A 2 year old girl in Oxford, Fla. died when an 8 foot pet Burmese python owned by her mother’s boyfriend escaped from a terrarium and strangled the child to death.
My girlfriend, Sarah, has a pet store, and reptiles are one of her specialties. She’s always been a big fan of snakes and lizards, and I too am fascinated by them. Sarah doesn’t carry Burmese or reticulated pythons. Both species are common in the pet industry, and they grow to lengths of 15 feet or more.
What people don’t realize is that owning a snake that size isn’t much different from owning a leopard or grizzly bear. They are capable of hurting or killing a human and should be kept only by professionals or others who are very experienced.
If you are interested in keeping a snake as a pet, I would highly recommend sticking with something smaller. Corn snakes and king snakes grow to about five feet. If you want a python, try a ball python. They look similar to larger pythons but stay a manageable four feet. All of these snaked tend to have good temperaments and make good pets.
Because they stay a reasonable size, they also can be kept in a decent-sized aquarium. Larger snakes need huge enclosures that can be very expensive.
If you insist on owning a large snake, do your homework and know what you are getting into. And for goodness sake, keep the snake in a secure area where it absolutely can’t reach children.
- Staff Writer Bryan Dean
Pets in the paper – deadly python attack
Check out these animal stories in The Oklahoman today -
- Python blamed in girl’s death. (Florida)
- Beef recalled in outbreak. (nationwide)
- A muddy good time with slime, scales. (Norman)
- Pet project raises awareness for animals’ needs. (Enid / nationwide)
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Pets in the paper – prevent hot dogs
No, not the kind you eat – the kind that pant and plop down on your living room in dramatic fashion.
Check out these animal stories in The Oklahoman today -
- Heat poses risks for pets, too. (statewide)
- Keeping your animals cool during the hot summer months. (statewide)
- Broccoli-snake head case goes unsolved. (New York)
- Reeling in a sizable catch hooks kids on fishing fun. (Choctaw)
- Dog show convenes. (Oklahoma City)
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
