Saugus wrestles with potential python problem

SAUGUS – When Frank Giacalone took over as Health Agent, he had no idea that pythons were in his job description.Giacalone became the go-to guy last week when complaints began flowing in to a local Town Meeting member, the K-9 Control Officer and later the Police Department regarding a man walking around town with a six foot Burmese python wrapped around him.The trouble stemmed mainly from the fact he was letting children pet the giant reptile. The problem for concerned parents is the town has no bylaw that covers pythons and no recourse to stop the man from taking his big yellow friend for a stroll. And Giacalone admits he’s not sure if the town should interfere.In researching the issue, Giacalone said he discovered Massachusetts Wildlife doesn’t even list the Burmese python as an exotic animal because it’s considered docile and isn’t venomous. Other kinds of pythons, and even some boa constrictors are listed, but the Burmese is considered relatively safe.Town Meeting member Ray Lawrence said that hasn’t stopped residents from worrying.Lawrence fielded the first calls from parents concerned that their children could contract salmonella from the snake or, worse, be bitten by it.Giacalone said contracting salmonella poisoning from a python is rare unless you handle its feces and, generally speaking, pythons don’t bite.He did say the snake should be treated like any animal on a leash – warily and respectfully”I believe any animal can be antagonized to bite,” Giacalone said.But, he added, while it might seem unusual, taking a python out for a walk or for a little sun is really no different than walking a dog. And currently there is nothing legally that anyone can do about it.”We don’t have a regulation for exotic animals,” he said. “We do have one for animal keepers. We permit horses, pigs, swine, chickens and pigeons and we have an animal inspector who goes out.”Giacalone said those regulations likely date back to when Saugus had considerably more farmland than it does today.Whether the town moves to establish a bylaw regulating unusual or exotic pets will be up to the Board of Health, which will take up the issue during a meeting at 6:15 tonight in Town Hall.”We’re looking at it, but does the Board of Health want to step in,” Giacalone asked. “You have to take into consideration how many snakes there are in town, how it will effect pet shops – there is a lot to think about.”