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COTTONWOOD HEIGHTS — Close to 30 boa constrictors and a bunch of dead rats are housed inside a home in Cottonwood Heights and it's illegal according to a city ordinance. Cops say most of those have to go.
Thomas Cobb has named some of his beloved snakes after Disney characters, one of them called Snow White. This is Cobb's childhood dream and he gets choked up talking about it.
"Thinking that someone wants to take my animals away," Cobb said.
It tears his heart out to know that he has to get rid of some of them.
"It's like taking the lollipop from your kid's hand," Cobb said.
He's sad that he's got to get rid of his snakes. But he understands that when you move into a place, a residential neighborhood like that, cities, or the county or whatever— they have ordinances for this sort of stuff.
–Sgt. Dan Bartlett
Cobb maintains nobody cares for snakes better than he does.
"Best caging, best bedding, best food. Best everything," Cobb said. "They're the best-kept animals, bar none, anywhere."
The boas are even fed a steady diet of homegrown rats, and his freezer full of them. While some people might think it's disgusting, Cobb says that's what most boa constrictors need to eat.
"That is pretty standard, yeah," Cobb said.
Police officers have informed Cobb that he needs to get rid of some of his snakes.
"He's sad that he's got to get rid of his snakes. But he understands that when you move into a place, a residential neighborhood like that, cities, or the county or whatever— they have ordinances for this sort of stuff," said Sgt. Dan Bartlett.
Best caging, best bedding, best food. Best everything. They're the best-kept animals, bar none, anywhere.
–Thomas Cobb, owner of snakes
Cops say in Cottonwood Heights somebody can own one exotic snake with a permit. They can own five rats with a permit.
Cobb currently has 29 snakes and about 80 rats. Somebody complained, and officers investigated.
"It's very neat, the way he has them," Bartlett said. "I mean, it's well organized and it's neat. Unfortunately, it's illegal."
Cobb says he moved in to the city ten months ago, and he'd rather move out entirely than face the prospects of losing his pets. He says less responsible snake owners have simply given what he does a bad reputation.
"A few ruin it for the many— a few irresponsible people. Just like a few irresponsible dog owners. A few irresponsible drivers. A few irresponsible parents. They ruin it for the people that do it right," Cobb said. "And I'm the guy that does it right."
Cobb has been given one week from today to resolve this matter. Right now, he's just trying to assess his options and doesn't know what he will do.
