Boy’s Tragic Death Could Have Happened To Any Family With 20-Foot Pet Python
Rich and Lisa Shaw say there were no warning signs that their 300-pound Burmese Python would crush and eat their 3 year old son.
Today Now!
Stay with us, because
coming up in a little bit
we're going to have our
money wise segment.
Oh, for people trying to
save a few pennies these days,
We're going to show you how to guilt
you're kids into dropping out of college.
But right now, lets return
to the story of little Zack Shaw,
who last week was tragically crushed
and eaten by his pet python.
It's the moment that every parent
with a 20 foot long snake fears most
and one you can't
possibly prepare for.
No, and here to tell their story
are Rich and Lisa Shaw, Zack's parents.
Thank you both
for coming in this morning.
I know it might be
terribly difficult for you
but could you share with us the details
of what happened on the day that Zack died.
Well, it was just a regular morning,
Rich was taking the girls to school
and Zack was playing
in the habitat.
I was painting our study,
we were converting it
so Zack and the snake could
have separate rooms.
I went out for a little bit and when
I came back I didn't hear Zack playing
and so I went up there
and I saw...
That must have been such a shock.
Yeah, I mean you never think that a python is
going to bring your family anything but joy.
Of course not.
It's the kind of thing that
you think can only happen
to other people with a
300 pound snake as a pet.
We always tried to be safe parents,
you know, we would never let Zack
by the pool unless he was supervised
by either one of us, or the python.
You have to just keep thinking
what if I had just checked on them
before I went out shopping
and then to the movies.
No, no, no, you can't think like that,
it's not your fault.
We were going to put a lock on the habitat.
I mean a door and then a lock.
Right.
We even thought about keeping
the snake outside of the house.
Especially since he ate our
Boston Terrier a couple of months ago.
You couldn't have known.
Yes, I know that's true.
Even if I could go back I know there's
nothing I could have done differently.
We could have maybe
put a bell on the snake.
Zack wouldn't want you
to be sad.
Yes, I know.
It's been hard on all of us
and the snake.
Sure.
Jaws is like a son to us.
He misses Zack very much.
You can see it in his eyes.
I just want to say to everyone watching,
just love your kids every day,
because you never know when
God is going to invite them
up to heaven through your snake.
That's a great lesson.
Well, if you at home would like to
help the Shaw family,
you can visit our website.
There are some instructions there
on how you can help to fray
some of Rich and Lisas expenses
including the purchase of a much needed
therapy snake for Zack's sister Anne
who's having some difficulty coping
with the loss of her brother.
Now let's go on over
to our relationship guru, Craig Wheaton,
who's going to give us
the six signs that your latest fling
was the result of woodland fairies
meddling in human affairs
Still ahead this hour...
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