Julius Squeezer, the 15-foot Burmese python that escaped from his Holladay home for the third time Thursday, was located Friday afternoon and abruptly taken away.
"He's en route to the slammer right now," Salt Lake County Sheriff's Lt. Lee Smith said Friday afternoon after the snake was located in an undeveloped area near its owner's home at 1931 E. 4625 South.The offices of the Salt Lake County Animal Services have now became the "snake slammer."
"It's not the normal thing we keep here," said director Peggy Hinnen, who sought advice from experts Friday on how to care for a snake.
County officials say they're tired of chasing after the snake - who was loose for four days last week - and have decided to hold onto it until they decide what action to take.
"It's costing us a lot of man-hours and a lot of public alarm," Smith said. "There are a lot of very concerned people out there who don't like the idea of the kids playing in the front yard with a 180-pound snake lurking in the bushes."
Smith said attorneys have found a statute under the state nuisance ordinance that may apply in this case. "We're hoping the courts will deal with it in such a manner as to prevent future problems," he said.
But Marty Bone, who has owned the snake for 15 years, said the whole incident is being blown out of proportion. He said he is being discriminated against simply because people are afraid of snakes.
"My snakes are just like a cat or a dog. They won't hurt anybody." He said dogs and other pets in the neighborhood get into his yard all of the time, but they don't get taken away just because they got loose.
"I spend more time with those snakes than a lot of people do with their dogs. Me and my snakes are buddy-buddy."
Bone said if people would take the time to learn more about snakes, they would not be so fearful of them and so willing to take them away.
"I'm really shook up that they're treating him this way. Julius is in jail," he said. "But I guess that's a good place for him because I was going to lock him in his room anyway."
Hinnen said she will meet with members of the sheriff's office and county attorney's office Monday to determine what, if any, action will be taken.