(UPDATE: April 17 @ 11:52 am): Milkshake the banana ball python has been returned to the Purple Seahorse pet store in Rutland.
The store's owner, Kai Heinrich, posted on social media earlier this week to appeal for help after he said his beloved reptile was stolen.
He has since been inundated with offers of help resulting, today, in the return of his snake.
Check out our follow-up video story heartwarming reunion.
(Original story: April 16 @ 7:19 am): The owner of a Kelowna pet store has issued an ultimatum after claiming a group of students took his snake.
Kai Heinrich said in a social media post that “a small group of kids” snatched the snake, a banana ball python named Milkshake, from the Purple Seahorse store in Rutland on Saturday.
Heinrich said he has high-definition video and audio of the alleged theft taking place, but wants to give the culprits “an opportunity to make things right.”
“No harm no foul we all make mistakes and I hope they learn from this,” he wrote.
But he added: “Unfortunately, I need to set a deadline or the chances of her suffering grow vastly with the more time that passes and I’m absolutely not ok with someone stealing an animal or someone’s pet.”
He said if he hasn’t got the snake back by Thursday morning, he will call the school he believes the students attend and also get in touch with the RCMP.
He also threatened to “post the entire” security camera footage on social media “for everyone else to help me find our pet.”
“A simple apology and returning my animal unharmed will suffice and we all cordially move on from this,” he said, adding that “a police record for something like this could really damage a young adult’s opportunity at living a good life.”
“Please don’t make me do that,” he said.
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