Owners 'disgusted' after police pose with dying snake in 'trophy' photos

[dutchman]

The owners of a snake found in a Coventry car park have accused police officers of "animal cruelty" after they smiled and posed for photos with his "limp" body before he died



The snake - a 10-year-old yellow rat snake called Psycho - was discovered by officers in Halfords car park in Foleshill yesterday morning (April 24).

They took him to an exotic animals store where he was placed in a heated box to try and revive him but he died overnight.

But his distraught owners say he could still be alive now if the officers had not removed him from the box to take photos.

Sian Bishop, the sister of the snake's owner, said the family would be making an official complaint about the officers behaviour to West Midlands Police.

A spokesman for the force said the officers had taken photos with the snakes and uploaded them to social media so the owner could be found.

There was no mention of tracing the owner in the officer's original Tweet which read: "Never a dull day in Foleshill!! This snake was rescued from Halfords car park this morning and taken to a local reptile shop to get it warmed up. Any idea on species, tweeps?"

The Tweet has since been deleted.

Sian told CoventryLive Psycho had puncture wounds and a broken jaw.

"It's like they were holding him up as a trophy," she added.

"It's disgusting how they were smiling in the photos too when he was nearly dead.

"I genuinely think he could have been saved but the way he was treated was absolutely disgusting.

"They [the police officers] were told not to pick him up. They should have just left him in the box.

"You can see in the pictures he is limp and his mouth is open and he needed urgent care.

"It's animal cruelty. They wouldn't have done if it is was a dog or cat. It's like they wanted to brag about it.

"They were also advised to take him to the vets last night and they declined and said they would go back and take him this morning but it's too late. He's passed away."

Psycho had been missing for a few weeks before he turned up in the motoring businesses car park yesterday.

His owners had thought he was somewhere in their Coventry home, but now believe he had escaped into their car and made the trip with them to Halfords.

He was found by the officers, from Foleshill Police, and taken to the Coventry Reptiles and Exotics shop on Foleshill Road.

The family say the care the shop's staff offered Psycho was "brilliant".

[dutchman]

Surely the owners bear some responsibility for allowing a snake to escape in the first place?

[rebbonk]

I don't think the police knew the snake was dying. They did all they reasonably could.

As regards the owners accepting some responsibility Dutchman, they don't strike me as that type.