Because K's't'lk would approve

[dduane]

SMITHTOWN, N.Y. - An orange tarantula with venomous fangs was rescued by animal cruelty officials today from an owner who said he could not longer care for the spider.

"This is the kind of spider that nightmares are made of," said Roy Gross, chief of the Suffolk County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. He said the spider is moody and aggressive, and when it rears up on its hind legs, it can jump three feet and will bite with its large fangs. The venomous bites are dangerous to humans, Gross said.

The spider, known as an ornate golden baboon spider, (beware, scary spider pic behind the link) has a fat body that is covered in orange hair, along with the legs. Male baboon spiders have a leg span of about 8 inches, females slightly larger, and their bodies can be 6 inches wide.

Baboon spiders have a life span of up to 25 years, while most other spiders live only a year or so. The spiders, native to southern Africa, spend most time near their nests, which are usually silk lined holes in the ground.

The SPCA was appealing to the public for financial help to care for the spider, but it wasn't immediately clear what would happen to it.

Well, the Suffolk County SPCA website has a PayPal button, so I'm going to go over there and give them a few bucks to Help The Spider. Poor baby!

[EDIT: The wee beastie has been sent to an animal sanctuary in Massachusetts.]