Pet cat eaten alive by python in Bristol garden
A pet cat was eaten alive by a 13ft-long Burmese python in a Bristol garden.
The four-year-old tabby, called Wilbur, was attacked when he went into a garden where the snake was lying.
Wilbur's owners Martin and Helen Wadey heard his "blood-chilling cries" and rushed to a nearby house in Brislington. But they could not get a reply from the owner and could do nothing to save Wilbur.
Mr and Mrs Wadey contacted the RSPCA, the snake was scanned and they confirmed a micro-chipped animal was inside. An RSPCA inspector later issued the snake's owner, Darren Bishop, with a verbal warning.
But Mr and Mrs Wadey want a change in the law so snakes are officially considered dangerous animals and need to be licensed.
The couple, who live in Upper Sandhurst Road have set up a website called Justice For Wilbur and are petitioning 10 Downing Street to introduce "Wilbur's amendment".
At the moment, anyone can go into a pet shop and pay about £130 for a Burmese python, despite the fact it could potentially kill.
Mr Wadey, 44, said: "We don't know whether Wilbur stumbled across the snake and it was an opportunistic kill, or if the snake was actively hunting him.
"But either way, we heard the python's strike from the terrified scream that came from Wilbur and the subsequent blood chilling cries as he fought for his life.
"Then in less than a minute, all was silent.
"He never stood a chance against a creature more than 13 times his weight with such immense power, Wilbur was crushed, asphyxiated and consumed whole."
It took two days for the couple to get hold of the snakes owner, Mr Bishop, and when they did they say they saw the snake had a bulge in its stomach.
Mr Wadey said: "It was so traumatic for us. The sound of his cries and the fact we were so close by but couldn't help him has been very distressing.
"Wilbur was a cat that had to be treated with kid gloves. The fact he was trapped like this would have been his ultimate fear.
"He was inside a giant serpent being digested.
"We couldn't say goodbye to him or bury him or any of the other things you would do if he had been run over or died another way.
" I haven't been this upset for 23 years, since my mum died. We don't have any children, the cats are our family. "
Mr and Mrs Wadey own three other cats and described Wilbur as a "miracle of fluffy nature".
Their online petition has attracted about 270 signatures so far and will require a formal response from Downing Street.
Bristol East MP Kerry McCarthy has written to Home Secretary Alan Johnson on their behalf for clarification of the law.
Mrs Wadey, 41, said: "We do not want Wilbur's death to be in vain. We want those sorts of snakes to be licensed and for owners to be prosecuted if they leave them unattended as well as having to inform people living nearby that they own one."
Pythons are not covered by the Dangerous Wild Animals Act, 1976 even though they can kill humans. In July, a two-year-old girl was crushed to death in Florida by an 8ft Burmese python.
The RSPCA confirmed one of their inspectors attended after the Brislington incident on June 25 and issued a verbal warning to the owner of the snake about appropriate housing and care requirements.
RSPCA Spokesman Jude Clay said: "The RSPCA is not concerned about people keeping exotic animals as pets as long as the owners are fully informed about what they are taking on and seek professional advice from an expert on how to provide for their pet. "
"Unfortunately all too often, people who take on an exotic animal as a pet are not fully aware of its needs and requirements.
"Potential owners need to consider diet, appropriate environment and housing, how big it will grow, how long it will live and any relevant health issues."
The Bristol Evening Post made several attempts to contact Mr Bishop but he was unavailable for comment.
223 Comments
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by lisa, rugby
Wednesday, August 19 2009, 1:09PM
“p.s. there is never this outcry or petitions for responsible ownership with massive, powerful and thus potentially dangerous dogs. compare the incidents involving exotics to those involvinbg dogs, maybe 10 thousand to one. hypocracy rules in this country.”
by Lisa, Rugby
Wednesday, August 19 2009, 1:05PM
“Cat owners who allow their cats to roam know they are at risk, from traffic, traps, being locked in sheds and any number of other deaths. Now I like cats, i dont think they should be kept indoors but if you own one you take your chances of losing them. also let's not forget that they are little death-mongers themselves. I lost 300 pounds worth of koi to a neighbour's cat. One came into her house through a bedroom window and murdered my friend's grey parrot! However my sisters cat went into a garden and was ripped to pieces by a greyhound - a devoted family pet. As long as cats roam it is the cat who is trespassing and some of them will die, be it by snake or any other means it matters not. the cat was in someone elses garden so in the wrong.”
by Emma, Warrington, UK
Tuesday, August 18 2009, 8:21PM
“I am firmly of the opinion that every person that wants to own an animal should be properly vetted and licened to prove that they are capable of providing that animal with the proper care and housing it needs. This goes double for owners of potentially dangerous animals. I have always believed this and should the day come that licences for pets are required I will be happy to pay the money and do the checks as I know that my animals are well looked after and are ultimately my resposibility. For that reason I will be signing the petition as I think its a step in the right direction.
As far as this case goes Mr Bishop is entitled to let his snake into his garden. As long as the snake is supervised at all times. Frankly to my mind it is mind bogglingly irresponsible to leave a 13 ft snake outside unattended.
If Mr Bishop had been with the snake then this may not have happened. The fact is he wasn't he left it outside alone, and he needs to take responsibility for HIS actions that have resulted in the death of a much loved pet. The snake is not to blame here. As much as he may not like to hear it, it is his fault this happened.
Maybe instead of trying to flip it round to being the cat owners fault for allowing the cat to roam, he should hold his hands up and admit he did a stupid thing and apologise to the Wades. And may be have a think how he would feel if his snake got eaten by something much bigger and more dangerous than it.”
by Matthew, Up Darren's Arse
Friday, August 14 2009, 10:36PM
“I have teeth and I can chew myself out you chav.”
by darren, bristol
Friday, August 14 2009, 5:23PM
“Boffingirl, great comment. There's a new story today so will use it to put some things right. Keep your eye on the comments!!!”
by evilherbivore, bristol
Thursday, August 13 2009, 12:47PM
“Darren: Cat faeces¿ is known to be very dangerous to children and to dispute that is to argue against a medically established fact.
Please give further details. If you mean toxoplasma, its a risk to pregnant women (less than the risk from sheep) and if you mean toxocara, its almost entirel dog faeces that is the risk”
by boffingirl, bristol
Wednesday, August 12 2009, 8:18PM
“Firstly, what a ridiculous comment about all snake owners being chavs who keep them for status symbols...
At the end of the day why shouldn't darren leave his own snake in his own garden.. after all the chances of something like this happening are very slim and all the "what if it had been a child" statements are quite ridiculous... or do you all know people who are in the habit of letting small children roam into other people's gardens? More children have been badly injured by dogs than have ever been attacked by snakes...
No doubt Wilbur was taking an interest in Squash and that's where the incident began... Snakes being opportunistic feeders what happened was at that point inevitable.. and the old saying "curiousity killed the cat" springs to mind.... I'm sure more snakes (grass snakes and slow worms in this country (yes, I know slow worms are technically lizards but they are snake-esque..>) ) are killed and maimed by cats every year worldwide than cats are eaten by snake....
Very sad for Wilburs owners (I know how they feel having lost 2 cats - one to a gamekeepers gun and one to a fox) but not warranting the anti-snake hysteria and vitriol that has ensued... please try grow up everyone and get a grip....
Also, if you look at the Justice for Wilbur website under links you will see a link to a U-Tube video showing Bear Grylls battering a wild snake to death - clearly an ill advised provocative link but one that I feels speaks volumes about the polarisation that is going on here....”
by darren, bristol
Tuesday, August 11 2009, 10:47PM
“cat, thank you for that. your comment is fair and based on what you have read.
chris, huddersfield. It wasn't until I posted it that I realised I hadn't made it clear that it was directed at the people who were stating the sort of things you had picked up on, and the supporters of the "concerned snake owners" who were trying to make out that these people new what they were talking about when you had actually already shown why they didn't. your comments have been entirely fair and balanced and im not in doubt that you do know what you're talking about. but your advice was your opinion and you made it very clear it was your opinion and not a factual authority. your advice was valid and appreciated. i only read the post before mine after i had posted mine. tried to start a pettiton but can't until september so will have to wait.”
by Cat, Bridgwater
Tuesday, August 11 2009, 11:13AM
“*removes foot from mouth*
ooops. sorry Darren, i just read through all the comments and saw your side of the story. While i still think it was very irresponsable of you to leave your burm unattended, or whatever happened, i should have thought before i typed.... so ...sorry >.<”
by Cat, Bridgwater
Tuesday, August 11 2009, 10:43AM
“"The snake should be destroyed as soon as possible before it kills again. Unless of course it turns on the stupid and irresponsible man that left it in the garden in the first place"
Made me laugh. "before it kills again" sorry, got an image of a burm on the prowl late at night for old ladies and their cats.
so perhaps we should have our cats destroyed when they bring home the neigbours precious budgie...you know..before it kills again...
and
"Xavier has hit the nail on the head,any moron who keeps snakes,spiders etc are dumb chavs,they just have them as status symbols"
Excuse me? Yes i agree there are some pretty stupid people who own these animals as "status sybmols" but the majority are perfectly normal people, with families and jobs, and knowledge of the species themselves and not a baseball cap, trakkie or pregnant teenaged daughter in sight thank you very much.
I actually found that pretty offensive.
And the man who left his burm outside is quite frankly an irresponsable prat who gives the rest of us responsible reptile and invert owners a bad name.”