DRUMOAK, SCOTLAND — The Scottish Society for the Protection and Care of Animals is taking heat after it froze a harmless green snake to death in a case of mistaken identity. <br /> <br /> <br />The snake was found on a cargo ship that had returned from West Africa on Nov. 9. <br /> <br /> <br />Scottish SPCA workers were called in and captured the reptile, which they thought was a venomous green mamba. They moved the snake to their rehoming center in Drumoak in Aberdeenshire, Aberdeenshire’s the Press and Journal reported. <br /> <br /> <br />But the closest anti-venom for a green mamba was in Bedford — eight hours away by car. And workers could not find a reptile specialist who could take in the snake. So, due to “severe health and safety concerns,” the Scottish SPCA workers decided it had to be euthanized, in a freezer. <br /> <br /> <br />After the poor thing died a horrible death did they realize it was a harmless green tree snake. It was not venomous and did not even have fangs. <br /> <br />PETA then criticized the SSPCA for the blunder, with director Elisa Allan saying: “If a snake must be euthanized — which means given a ‘good death’ — the animal shouldn’t be frozen to death.” <br /> <br />Allan also said ‘’major veterinary bodies, including the Association of Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians, said freezing was unacceptable. The formation of ice crystals on a snake’s skin can cause acute pain.’’ <br /> <br />Scottish SPCA chief superintendent Mike Flynn said it had been an “innocent mistake.” He said the charity “genuinely believed” it was a green mamba.
