<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by freebrd:
I received a notice to quit paper today from my landlord. It states that I have three days to vacate unless I get rid of my pet snake. My landlord allows pets though, He knows that I have a bird, dog and fish, which I do pay extra rent for every month. My snake is only a baby, about 12 inches long an lives in an enclosed aquarium. Can he legally be telling me which pets I can and cannot have? I have been renting from him now for 11 months and there is nothing stated on my lease about pets. When I called him and spoke to his wife she said that he hates snakes, and that this was his reason why. He does not live with me though!! now, is this right?? Someone please help!! I miss Rosie so much......<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
You have to admit that a snake is not a domesticated pet such as a dog, cat, rabbit, bird or even a potbellied pig. What does your written lease agreement state? If there is nothing handwritten, most fill-in-the-blank lease forms prohibit pets. Are snakes allowed to be kept as pets in your State? Rosie may grow up to be a 200 lb 26 foot boa constrictor or anaconda as far as the landlord is concerned. What is the landlords liability if the snake were to escape and harm a neighborhood child? would the landlords liability insurance cover such an accident of this nature? What does your State L/T code say about pets and the type. If your fish is a pirahna, I would side with your landlord. If you did not get prior permission and approval from your landlord to keep the snake, you have no legal right to have it as a pet. Next time say it is a rare and valuable tropical forest land eel listed on the United Nations endangered species list. And you are waiting for the National Geographic photographers to call you to schedule a photo session and interview your landlord for their new Reptilian Wonders of the World special winter issue. He may be famous because of Rosie.
