Dad defends decision to allow toddler daughter to play with their pet python

You can’t scroll through social media without seeing some image of a child with its trusted pet, usually these pets are of the fluffy variety but in the case of one family the pet they like taking pictures with is a snake.

The 13-foot Burmese python called Nay-Nay lives with his human family in White Lake, Michigan.

Dad Jamie Guarino has had Nay-Nay since it was a baby but now it’s grown into a snake capable of killing someone in a matter of minutes.

But Jamie treats his pet as if it were a cuddly furball and allows it out to play with his three daughters.

He even shared a video of the python playing with his then 14-month old daughter and it caused quite a storm online.

But Jamie, who has been a snake handler since the age of 16, wants to change people’s negative opinions of this reptile.

The video shows his daughter, as a toddler, lying on the floor as the snake moves over her.

“This guy has a love for his snakes, which is perfectly fine, but it’s made him blind to the fact that is DOES remain a dangerous animal, especially towards a baby,” commented one YouTube user, as quoted by ABC7 News.

But Jamie, who regularly uploads videos of him and his two older daughters handling snakes on his YouTube channel SnakeHuntersTV , said people are programmed to be scared of snakes.

“When people see this clip they mostly react with fear or negativity. And I don’t understand why,” he said. “This is an embedded fear, and I think people are brainwashed.

“ To those of you who might see this video as irresponsible or dangerous, please take a minute. Don’t judge based on fear or something you don’t understand. Snakes can be, and are, loving animals .”

In the video uploaded by Truly many have come out in support of Jamie allowing his snake to move freely around his young daughter.

“Have massive amounts of respect for this guy.. it’s hard for people to understand but he’s a professional he knows his snakes and you can clearly see the snake is chill not particularly interested in the little girl but more interested in having a look around,” one user wrote.

“Snakes are inquisitive animals and they are also very affectionate despite the mean reputation. Listen to this guy folks snakes are NOT what you think they are.. 🐍”

Many said as long as the snake doesn’t feel threatened or is hungry, they are safe to be around.

Unfortunately the authorities didn’t see it this way and Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office asked the Department of Human Resources to launch an investigation on whether child neglect or abuse is taking place in 2015, the Oakland Free Press reported.

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