A woman was returning to a downtown Los Angeles apartment building Thursday morning when she found a nearly 20-foot-long python slithering out of a dumpster.
Joseph Hart, also known as the Reptile Hunter, told KNX News’ Karen Adams he got the call from the woman.
“She's like, ‘Joe, the Reptile Hunter, I hope you can help me out with this situation,’” he said. “I'm like, ‘Tell me what's going on.’ She's like, ‘I have a 20-foot snake. Someone dumped in our dumpster.’ I'm like, ‘Oh no, that's not good. Not good at all.’”
Hart responded to the Piero Apartment and rescued the python from the dumpster. He said the animal has a mouth infection, which he believes is why someone discarded it.
@knxnews A woman returning to a downtown L.A. apartment building found a nearly 20-foot-long python slithering out of a dumpster. She called Joseph Hart, aka the Reptile Hunter, to rescue it. Video: Joseph Hart/@reptile.hunter
“That's what's so sad about this whole case is that the perpetrator must have looked at the mouth and thought, ‘oh gosh, this is going to be a very expensive vet bill,’” he said. “Which is true, but it can easily be saved.”
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Hart said he’s going to keep the python, whom he named Apples. After nursing Apples, he said he plans to have Apples be the Reptile Hunter's ambassador as he travels and teaches kids about animals.
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