Kimball said he was at the park when an animal control officer suggested that he place the snakes on leashes in order to restrain them. Initially, Kimball thought the officer was joking because it was April Fool’s Day. However, last week he was ticketed for $190. He said it was for “animals running at large.”
Apparently the officer asked Kimball to put a rope around the snakes. Kimball said he refused and he was dumbfounded by the request.
Kimball was told that he technically needed his snakes on a leash and he told the officer that there was no such item.
Julie Dejong, an Animal Control supervisor, said pet owners can’t take their dogs to the park and let them roam without a leash. She said the same goes for any other kind of animal that is brought to the park. She added that they need to be restrained in some way.
One of the snakes, a fire bee ball python, was roaming around the Falls Park. Kimball said he often brings that snake to the park because he wants to show others that snakes are not killers.
He said the ordinance doesn’t distinguish between animals, and only says if it’s in public and not on a leash then it’s at large.
Kimball plans to go to court and fight the fine. As of now, a court date has not been set.
