Being a responsible snake owner

Something I want to talk about came up for me yesterday morning when Pete and I took Sierra to Colorado State University Veterinarian Hospital to check about a slight lump we saw on her two days ago. The Vet checked her but found nothing.

I don't know whether to be happy or nervous wondering what it may have been. Regardless, I will be watching her to see if it happens again. Of course IBD is an ever present worry...

Anyway, one of the assistants actually had a great idea – she suggested taking a picture of the area if the lump comes up again. That I can certainly do. Anything to help my little buddy.

While we were talking with the Vet Pete mentioned something I hadn't thought about in a couple of years.

We had taken Sierra in to see the Vet in Dallas for her checkup and someone had brought another snake in that had been left alone in a box with a rat that was a potential meal.

What ended up happening was the poor snake was just torn to bits. It was so sad to see such a beautiful snake torn up so badly. I knew it had to be in great pain with all the serious wounds.

I cried – and even my husband talking about it today reminded me of how badly the poor snake was torn up and I cried today too. I tired to shush him but he didn't realize I would remember how badly the snake was injured so he kept telling them about it. I tried not to cry, to think of something else but it just didn't work.

People... it really does not take that much time for a hungry snake to eat a meal. Always stay with your snake until after it begins eating its meal. If you have to go to work, then wait until you get home and then feed it. Put your pet first. DO NOT LEAVE YOUR SNAKE ALONE WITH A POTENTIAL MEAL. Doing so can and has cost many a beautiful snake it's life.

I simply cannot say that often enough. If you truly love your snake and value them as the gorgeous, necessary animals they are, NEVER NEVER LEAVE THEM ALONE WITH A POTENTIAL MEAL. A rat or other prey animal will fight for their life just like anything else will and as is most often the case the snake has no where to retreat for safety.

That very sad incident ended with the snake being put to sleep by two extremely upset professional Veterinarians that both cried when they saw the state of the poor thing. Needless to say they were both very angry as well. Everyone that saw it was upset. However, I did manage to keep my mouth closed until Pete and I left.

It is a very irresponsible person that would let something like that happen to their snake simply because they did not take the time to stay with their pet while it eats.

Take care of your snake. Treat them with the love and respect they deserve. And please remember what I say in regard to venomous snakes – don't keep them and don't handle them.

Love them, protect them, read, study and learn about them then pass that knowledge on to others so we can conserve them.