A Cleveland resident got more than they bargained for on Halloween night when an 8-foot-long python fell through their ceiling from an abandoned upstairs unit. The caller reported the snake falling from above, prompting a call for service to Cleveland Animal Care & Control, which dispatched officers to the scene.
The caller said a snake fell through their ceiling from an abandoned upstairs unit, according to FOX 8 News. Officers with the Cleveland animal control team safely contained the snake and transported it, the outlet reported, describing the python as 8 feet long.
Officers Praised for Calm, Professional Handling
Cleveland Animal Care & Control said the python was in its care and praised officers for handling the pickup safely and professionally, according to the report.
The agency says its officers respond to calls involving domestic, wildlife and exotic animals, according to the same report.
Agency Warns Against DIY Capture and Release
The agency urged residents not to try to capture unusual animals themselves and to contact animal control. It also warned against releasing pythons or other exotic animals, citing risks to the animals, native wildlife and the public.
Ohio law does address the handling of certain snakes. A provision under Ohio Revised Code Section 935.08 sets out permit requirements for specified people who possess or acquire restricted snakes and do not intend to propagate or transfer them.
City services for animal and property concerns
The City of Cleveland describes Animal Care & Control as responding to animal-ordinance complaints and providing stray-dog pickup, according to the Division of Animal Care & Control. Separately, Cleveland’s 311 building and housing page lists ways to report a hazardous vacant property or request boarding when a property is open to entry on the first floor. The city’s materials do not establish whether anyone reported this building.
The Halloween incident was unusual, but the agency’s advice is straightforward: leave animal capture to professionals and contact animal control.
