Overview

• The snake was abandoned in a plastic bin atop a dumpster at the Piero Apartments after animal control and police declined to intervene or threatened euthanasia
• Joseph Hart of SoCal Reptile Hunter retrieved the reticulated python and transported her to Riverside for veterinary evaluation
• Veterinary examination confirmed a serious mouth infection and Hart has begun administering antibiotics and providing supportive care
• The rescued female, named Apples, is the focus of a grassroots campaign raising funds for her ongoing medical treatment and a properly sized enclosure
• Los Angeles city regulations require permits for exotic pet ownership, and officials are reviewing enforcement following the incident