Pet cat eaten alive by Burmese python prompts petition to change law

A sad and horrifying incident in Bristol, England has prompted the owners of a pet cat strangled and eaten alive by a neighbor's 13-foot Burmese python to call for changes in the law concerning dangerous animals. On the evening of June 25, Wilbur, a four year-old orange and white tabby, unwittingly ambled into a neighbor's backyard and met a grisly death. Lying among the shrubbery and grass was a 13-foot Burmese python that its owner had let loose in his garden. At the moment the snake struck, Wilbur's owners, Martin and Helen Wadey were at home a few houses away. 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 over 13 times his weight with such immense power. Wilbur was crushed, asphyxiated and consumed whole. -- Martin Wadey, Wilbur's owner Standing on the deck of their house, the Wadeys heard every terrible sound, but could see little into the neighboring garden. Mr. Wadey ran to the neighbor's house and banged on the front door, but no one answered. Two days later, Mr. Wadey was finally able to confront the owner of the python, who admitted that he had left the 13-foot snake outside from 7 to 8 p.m. on the night that Wilbur died. He also admitted that when he went to retrieve his snake, it had a "huge bulge" in it that indicated he had eaten live prey. Upon scanning the snake with a microchip scanner, the RSPCA confirmed that the snake had a "domestic pets microchip" inside of it. The RSCPA issued a verbal warning to the owner of the python, but took no further action. As it is currently written, England's Dangerous Wild Animals Act of 1976 does not include pythons. The Wadeys want to change that. They have started an online petition at the website, Justice for Wilbur, to ask their government to amend the law to include pythons as dangerous animals. In July, a two year-old Florida baby girl lying in her crib was strangled by the family's pet albino Burmese python. The Wadeys, who are childless and have three other cats (one of whom is Wilbur's brother, Freddy), are devastated at Wilbur's death. They had raised Wilbur since he was a seven week-old kitten. Some might not understand the fuss being made over a dead cat, but he was our cat and we loved him dearly, he was a part of our family, as any cat owner will understand. He was beautiful, strong, soft, had a purr like a dynamo and was a miracle of fluffy nature. -- The Wadeys The Wadeys "have had nothing to say goodbye to, stroke for one last time, mourn over, or bury." They hope that "Wilbur's Amendment" will change the law so that snakes are required to be licensed, owners must notify nearby residents of the snake, and subjected to prosecution if they fail to do either of those things or leave them unattended. In this way, the Wadeys hope that Wilbur's death will not have been in vain.