Amend the Dangerous Wild Animals Act to include Pythons

Our beautiful cat Wilbur was killed and eaten by a 13 foot long burmese python on June 25th 2009. We heard his screams as he fought for his life. The python's owner had left the snake unattended in his back garden, four doors away, for over half an hour, long enough for Wilbur's little life to be snuffed out or for the snake to have escaped and killed a human.

Because these snakes aren't included in the Dangerous Wild Animals Act (DWAA) there is no need for them to be licensed, nor are there any rules specifying how they must be kept. If they were venomous it would be different, but they're not, what they are however is lethal, a 13 foot python is capable of killing an adult human. So, by leaving his snake unattended and allowing it to kill Wilbur, my neighbour has done nothing wrong in the eyes of the law.

The RSPCA has long campaigned to have these snakes, which can grow to more than two metres in length, added to the list of animals which must be licensed under the DWAA. But they were not among the species added to the Act in 2007. Experts decided to keep them off the list because they pose little danger to the general public as "most accidents with pythons involve owners or members of the same household".

As our case shows, these 'experts' obviously don't take into account the danger they pose to other animals, nor the stupidity and irresponsibility of some python owners. It beggars belief to us that we can get no justice for Wilbur and we are campaigning for an amendment to the DWAA to include pythons, boa constrictors and any non venomous yet lethal snake. Please support 'Wilbur's Amendment' by signing this petition.