Snakes' fangs ripped out, mouths sewn shot for 'family photo-ops'

Animal cruelty is against the law -- unless you do it to snakes, apparently. An Oklahoma humane wildlife and pest control company known as The Skunk Whisperer blasted the state Sunday evening on Facebook for what it described as "promoting felony animal cruelty on the OK tourism website." From their post:

Tens of thousands of people attend “rattlesnake roundup” events each year in OK & more in different parts of the U.S., but only in Oklahoma do lawmakers allow or endorse people holding a snake down while they remove the fangs with pliers and then sew the snake’s mouth shut for family photos with a “live” rattle snake. On the State of Oklahoma owned and run website they say “While at the derby, don't forget to secure the ultimate souvenir: a picture taken with a live rattlesnake. Expert snake handlers will be on-hand to shoot family photos with live snakes”, & also, “Have your picture taken with a live Diamondback rattlesnake in the on-site photobooth”. Per this wording, they are using Oklahoma money to endorse felony acts of animal cruelty & are literally encouraging people to turn the glorification of felony animal cruelty into a wholesome family affair. The Department of Tourism Director, Deby Snodgrass, has approved spending OK tax money on Google Ad Words to promote the events. Please write & tell her that a state that endorses & pays to promote fangs being torn out of an animal’s mouth & mouths being sewn shut is not a state that you care to vacation or live in: information@TravelOK.com 120 N. Robinson Avenue, 6th Floor P.O. Box 52002 Oklahoma City, OK 73152-2002

In the post, he linked to the website in question here; read the whole post on Facebook.