I just killed a snake.

[mike_panic]

Steve, Respectfully, I disagree with you. He put the post up there looking for everyone to say(and so far they have) that he did the right thing. I disagree. What I'm saying is...... As an alternative to killing the snake, he could have..... Ill say it again, he could have JUST AS EASILY decided to take the snake to a vet and let the vet decide. That's all. I can't see how anyone in good faith, can find fault in what I'm saying. No one here has ever found a baby bird that was attacked by a cat and all beaten up and tried to save it? Sometimes he lived and sometimes he died but at least you tried. But you never said hey let me get a brick and kill it. Are we saying in a forum for snakes that snakes deserve less? I am not being judgmental Steve. Objective maybe but not judgmental.

[guidofatherof5]

No problem Mike.
I agree that there were other options but you and I were not there.

[d_virginiana]

Steve, Respectfully, I disagree with you. He put the post up there looking for everyone to say(and so far they have) that he did the right thing. I disagree. What I'm saying is...... As an alternative to killing the snake, he could have..... Ill say it again, he could have JUST AS EASILY decided to take the snake to a vet and let the vet decide. That's all. I can't see how anyone in good faith, can find fault in what I'm saying. No one here has ever found a baby bird that was attacked by a cat and all beaten up and tried to save it? Sometimes he lived and sometimes he died but at least you tried. But you never said hey let me get a brick and kill it. Are we saying in a forum for snakes that snakes deserve less? I am not being judgmental Steve. Objective maybe but not judgmental.

Anyone with experience taking snakes to a general vet could find fault with what you're saying. Most vets know little to nothing about reptiles. And what if money was an issue? I know I couldn't afford a vet bill for a terminally injured snake. A lot of rehabbers even charge for vet care beyond just some TLC (they say they need 'sponsors' for the animal) if it isn't endangered.
To answer your question; Yes I've found many animals that are on the verge of death and successfully rehabbed many of them. But when I see a case that is OBVIOUSLY terminal to ANYONE with common sense, I do the humane thing and say "Hey let me get a brick and kill it". Or, I guess I could terrify it by dragging it out of the woods, taking it on a long car ride, making it sit in a cold vet's office, and then letting someone poke and prod at it for a few minutes before finally ending its life.
No one here knows what that snake's actual condition was, but it sounds to me like it was terminal, and probably saved from a slow, painful death.

FYI: There's evidence that death by euthanasia does not work the same for reptiles and amphibians as for mammals. Their brains remain active long after their body begins to shut down, and in many species it can be a rather drawn out, conscious, process.

[mike_panic]

No problem Mike.
I agree that there were other options but you and I were not there.

This is true I was not there and saving an animal(any animal) is always a judgement call.
I am saying however, that we are not (at least I'm not) qualified to make that call and the animal it seems, deserved as much.

[Didymus20X6]

Mike, you weren't here, so by your very absence, you aren't qualified to make any kind of judgment calls.

I didn't post here looking for affirmation, but to express my sorrow at what I had to do. I really don't give a rat's tail whether you think it was right or not. I was here. I saw the snake, and how it wasn't able to move below that injury. I also know my town, and know full well there isn't a qualified reptile vet available anywhere near here. And I wasn't about to drive to Memphis or Jackson to look for one. I know with absolute certainty that the absolute best I could do - apart from killing the animal - was to prolong its miserable existence so that it could die later, probably in excruciating pain.

So I really don't care whether I have your affirmation or not. I made the call, and my assessment that the absolute most humane thing to do was to end the creature's life still stands. So unless you can walk on water and have the ability to raise the snake from the dead, you and I have nothing to discuss. Good day to you, sir.

[mike_panic]

Mike, you weren't here, so by your very absence, you aren't qualified to make any kind of judgment calls.

I didn't post here looking for affirmation, but to express my sorrow at what I had to do. I really don't give a rat's tail whether you think it was right or not. I was here. I saw the snake, and how it wasn't able to move below that injury. I also know my town, and know full well there isn't a qualified reptile vet available anywhere near here. And I wasn't about to drive to Memphis or Jackson to look for one. I know with absolute certainty that the absolute best I could do - apart from killing the animal - was to prolong its miserable existence so that it could die later, probably in excruciating pain.

So I really don't care whether I have your affirmation or not. I made the call, and my assessment that the absolute most humane thing to do was to end the creature's life still stands. So unless you can walk on water and have the ability to raise the snake from the dead, you and I have nothing to discuss. Good day to you, sir.

WOW..... talk about walking on water man. Listen buddy. I know you're not looking for my affirmation and I'm sure you could care less what I think(I feel the same way). I just disagreed with you but I wasn't trying to take this to a personal level(looks like you are) but I'm pretty good at being sarcastic as well. You posted this on the forum therefore, agree with me or not, you WILL hear what I have to say as a fellow forum member in good standing. If you don't like that I disagree with you, save your snake killing stories for the camp fire. It was a judgment call, I get it but this is where we disagree. "THE ABSOLUTE BEST YOU COULD DO" was to get your lazy rats tail(sound familiar?) into a vehicle and get it to someone who is qualified to make that decision(you, despite of what you think, are not). In closing, let me help your over inflated ego out a bit. For the record, you did not save this snake. You cannot even say with any degree of accuracy that you humanely euthanized that snake. The only thing we know for sure is that you KILLED that snake. Its right there in your thread title.

[Didymus20X6]

As I said, Mike, we have nothing further to discuss, so you can take your self-righteous attitude and shove it.

[scott5017]

Mike, take your clown act elsewhere buddy. You have nothing constructive to add other than point fingers when you obviously dont have all the information. He made a judgement call on a snake that was obviously in horrific pain to do the humane thing. If it was at all avoidable it wouldnt have happened, but it did.

So get off ur damm high horse and give the guy a break.

[guidofatherof5]

Let's not let this get out of hand. Please.

[Didymus20X6]

I'm pretty sure that a three-hour drive to find a reptile vet that might or might not be open on a Sunday is exactly what the snake needed. Probably would have worked wonders for its condition, too.