In-state exotic pets threaten safety

(WTNH) - This weekend's discovery of a alligator in South Windsor, along with the recent chimp attack in Stamford, has underlined the dangers presented by exotic pets. In a Count on 8 investigation, News Channel 8 wanted to find out what kind of wild pets are being kept in the state.

Cindy King, of the West Hartford Children's Museum, has seen it all. Everything from Emperor Scorpions to a King Baboon Tarantula. "We have picked up scorpions at the airport," said King. "And, tarantulas from grocery stores."

They are dangerous, deadly and illegal exotic animals and are more common than you might think.

"We took three alligators out of an apartment complex in Bridgeport," said a representative for the Department of Environmental Protection.

DEP said you need a permit to own these kind of animals. In the past five years, they have issued zero permits to pet owners because no one has applied.

"People just feel like they are getting something that is dangerous and exciting," said King.

King takes at least two calls per week from pet owners and/or animal control officers trying to place an illegal, exotic pet in a safe home for the public and for the animal itself.

Milford police seized an exotic collection of venomous spiders and scorpions in a home earlier this month. They were taken by Cindy King at the Children's Museum in West Hartford.

Wilson: "Do you get nervous handling them?"
King: "I am and that is what keeps me safe."

In all, six scorpions and a tarantula from Africa were gathered; a deadly flick from the stinger of the scorpion's tail alone can kill.

"It is a neurotoxin, you would get vomiting, you would get airway constriction, you would be dizzy and you would be in a lot of pain," said King. "But it wouldn't kill you; but a child or an elderly person it could kill them."

So, why do people buy these animals?

"People just buy these animals; they are very small when they get them at the pet store," said King. "They think they are going to be very exciting to have and they get them home and they get really, really large; they get out of control."

This is like what happened in Stamford. Travis the Chimpanzee had been raised from a baby by his owner but turned on a family friend, mauling her face and leaving her in a medically-induced coma.

DEP said no matter how cute or cool it may seem, some exotic animals are illegal for a reason; DEP has seized everything from chimps to alligators living as pets.

Edith Vibert, of South Windsor, found an alligator Sunday afternoon on her property.

"When you got closer he would turn and cock his head open and you could see his teeth," said Vibert.

Police say it was released by a pet owner who didn't want the animal anymore. They are looking for that owner to prosecute.

"It's an American Alligator, it's illegal to posses as a pet and the owner could face charges," said Sgt. Scott Custer of the South Windsor Police Department.

The Beardsley Zoo got their alligators by a private pet owner who could no longer take care of the animals.

"They are probably in the neighborhood of 7 to 8 feet long or a little bit more," said an expert at the Beardsley Zoo. "We had three of them, they finally grew up. One of them we had to move to Florida because we didn't have enough space to handle three, adult size alligators in that exhibit."

And, it's not just alligators they end up with. They also ended up with a Burmese Python named Stanley.

"It's against the law in Connecticut to release a large snake in Connecticut like this," said the Beardsley Zoo expert.

But it happens.

Stanley is 10 feet long and weighs 30 pounds, and is only half the size he will grow to, and that is the problem they have with the snakes; people get them and think they make great exotic pets, but it gets so big, so large so fast that they end up being let go in public.

Stanley was found in a three family house in New Britian," said King. "And it didn't belong to any of them."

DEP is going to recommend stronger laws, with tougher penalties, but they worry animal lovers will not heed the warnings.