Cold-Blooded Housemates Warms Business Man's Heart

Edmonton Journal-February 14, 2003- Amy Steele

An Albino Burmese python appears to be wrapping around Dean Harper of Wrappin About Reptiles.

        Thing, a 36-kilogram, 4.5- meter Burmese Python, knocks Dean Harper's glasses off his nose as it drapes its powerful body around him.  It looks menacing, its forked tongue flicking.  One it even dislocated Harper's shoulder.  But Thing helps Harper make a living as on of 300 creatures in his Olds business called Wrappin About Reptiles.  And Thing is more than the reptilian employee of the month to Harper, who speaks of a close bond with the Python.  He has a thing for Thing.  "Since the day 'Thing' hatched, he basically hatched in my hand and it's that motherly bond.  It's a kismet were kind of drawn to each other.  He knows all of my intimate secrets," jokes Harper.  This guy's a pussy cat.  Burmese Pythons are known as gentle giants."

        Harper takes his reptiles to schools, malls and even children's birthday parties all over Western Canada.  His goal is to eradicate many of the stereotypes and myths about reptiles.

        A few times, people have looked at his big snakes and hissed, "the devil, the devil" while he's giving presentations.  They're such misunderstood animals.  They need champions on their behalf.  Since the age of five I've been enthralled with them," he says.

        In Harper's basement there are enough frogs, toads, tortoises, lizards and snakes for a small zoo.  Some of his more exotic reptiles require a special permit from Alberta Fish and Wildlife and many are very expensive to purchase.  He estimates his 3  Emerald Tree Boas are worth several thousand dollars each.

        To protect his reptiles and safe guard his young daughters, all his reptile enclosures have locks and Harper also locks the room they're in.

        When giving presentations, he says, he only uses reptiles he knows are safe around the public.

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