serious sh*t

[Sparkplug]

Hey folks-

Well, it’s been yet another dramatic and nearly tragic day at our household.

While out back doing some yardwork with my wife, our pug puppy, Hero and our cat, Trouble, I had a hard time starting the mower, and went back to the garage to get a big Philips screwdriver to loosen some screws and have a look. Upon my return, I was walking over to the mower, when my wife screamed. I turned around to see Hero, nearly wrapped to his tail by a huge python. I screamed a stream of black, blasphemous obscenities, and tore across the yard to him. I began stabbing at the snake with the screwdriver, unsure how to strike it without hitting Hero.

I screamed at my wife to get me a shovel. After about 5-6 seconds, the snake had Hero nearly totally wrapped-up. I was frantic, grabbed a big coil of it and stabbed it through with the huge Phillips. Blood flinging across the patio, the snake finally let go, and I was able to pull it off of Hero, flinging it over my shoulder to the patio. At this point, I realized how big it was – approximately 8” long.

My wife appeared immediately at my side and handed me a shovel. With the screwdriver sticking out the side of it, the snake was still pretty ****ed off, and started around to come at me, at which point, I hammered it on the head with the flat of the shovel. I yelled at Diana to get Hero, who was now tottering around the patio, coming near the snake. Then I whacked the snake’s head off with the shovel.

Diana ran inside with Hero, called the vet, and we were there within 5 minutes. Hero was bleeding from his head and mouth, where the python had struck and grasped him. His heart rate was very high and his breathing labored, but he was ok. The vet sedated him, gave him an anti-inflammatory and asked us to leave him for the night, to be sure he didn’t have any cracked ribs or anything. We’re picking him up in the morning.

My wife and I came home, drank two bottles of wine, talked about snakes, emergencies, battle and life and are now off to bed.

Thanks to my Dad, for teaching me how to kill snakes, and how to react quickly in an emergency. The only thing going through my mind was “There’s no way in HELL this f'ing snake is gonna take my little buddy Hero, if I have to rip it apart with my bare hands!” I also am fortunate enough to have a wife who can handle herself in an emergency. Hero’s fine, the snake is dead as hell, and this is one battle going to the Sparkplugs.

People, keep your yards clear of clutter and watch yourselves out there! This happened in Seventeen Mile Rocks, 15 mins SW of Brisbane CBD.

Pics below. Sorry if you're a big fan of snakes.

[kiwikid]

good to hear hero is ok.

i lost a treasured dog to a snake many years ago.

good to see you got the ****ker

[darkfang888]

yeah kill them snakes! No scaly sonofubitch gonna take any dog as long as there's people around! And if ole' Steve Irwin's got something to say about that, so do a couple of dobermans!

[Sparkplug]

Thanks fellas. My philosophy is kill the damned thing first, THEN worry about what kind it was! I got no mercy for them. We've been through too much in the past few months, and have put so much love and care into the little guy to lose him to a f'ing snake. I tell you though, it was a VERY close thing. 10 seconds later, and I reckon he'd have been crushed. That thing was FAST.

[XR6Gal]

woah, thats a big snake, it looks alot bigger in the first picture. Glad that your dog is okay!!! Cute picture of your dog & cat

[darkfang888]

My philosophy too. 'course, we don't get snakes here... well the odd one or two. It's too cold for the scaly bastards. You Aussies can come pick up your possums and bloody wallabies though... we don't got enough ammo to get rid of them all.

[SpoolMan]

Wow thats a snake, not sure what i would have done, good job..
its a good friday you will never forget...

[kiwikid]

Originally Posted by XRFPV8

Wow thats a snake, not sure what i would have done, good job..
its a good friday you will never forget...

now to be know as almost bad friday...

[RSgerry]

bloody hell. good to hear your little friend survived. i bet you need more than the two bottles of wine though...

[LUXO_8]

woah, bloody snakes. glad ya pet's ok...

[Danny]

You have an awesome dog. Pugs, theyre my favourite.
Glad he's alive still. lucky.

[Captain Stubing]

Good thing you've got quick gut reactions... I'd hate to lose my cat like that (I'm campaigning for a dog, too!) to a snake!

[Sparkplug]

yeh, could'a just as easily been the cat, but he is a bit more cautious. It was CLOSE though, if I'd have been in the house, I think by the time I heard the scream and made it out it would'a been too late, for real. It wasted no time at all.

I'm now on to gin, still tryin to calm down. I reckon I'll have a hard time ever beating that snake story! Bloody heck...

The thing about emergencies is you never have any heads-up, hey. You just gotta do what you gotta do with what you have at hand. I sure am glad I had a 10" screwdriver in hand!

Poor little guy though, scared half to death. Very close thing. Could have been a lot worse though - you folks with little kids, take this as a wake-up call. There's some big snakes roaming our yards.

[Sparkplug]

still got the snake in a bag, just gonna toss it Tues in the bin. Considered skinning it & pegging it out on the fence to dry, like we used to do back in Texas.

You're welcome to it if you want it, would probably make a nice belt, wallet or hat-band.

[RG]

Snakes are protected. But who really cares about that when 1. it's got your puppy or 2. when it's a PUG puppy. Couldn't get the missus away from the screen she loves 'em.

[deankdx]

Originally Posted by Sparkplug

still got the snake in a bag, just gonna toss it Tues in the bin. Considered skinning it & pegging it out on the fence to dry, like we used to do back in Texas.

You're welcome to it if you want it, would probably make a nice belt, wallet or hat-band.

get it made into dog and cat collars so the next snake will think twice.
good to hear that your dog's ok

[zetec]

Whoah, sorry to hear mate. You know you did the best by your little man and he'd be mighty proud of his master for saving him. Hero was definitely named after his master.

[Damo]

That's a beautiful snake. What did you do with it ?

Your dog is Hero and the Cat is trouble ? I have Floss, Astro, Sooty and Sam. 2 Dogs 2 cats. Pets are awesome.

I could see myself freaking out in the same situation.

[darkfang888]

Keep the dog warm for the next few days, coz sometimes they're scared sh**less for a few days and get the shakes. Happened to my dog when she was caught between a car and a trailer.

[kiwikid]

i dont see you letting hero venturing outside very much for some time...

[Steve_T]

Very glad to hear Hero is ok mate. Thankfully you and your wife were there when you were to save him too and not 10 secs later like you say.

Beautiful pic there of Hero and Trouble BTW - glad to see they are obviously great mates.

Steve.

[LuvinmyEB]

Glad you got there in time and saved your beloved pooch.

We've had quite a few Tiger & Brown snakes in the area lately, so no junk in the backyard here, although the lawn needs to be mowed.

As my dad told me, walk lightly and carry a bloody big shovel. I've lost count of the number of tiger & brown snakes I saw him kill when I was younger. We lived in what was then in the middle of nowhere and were surrounded my paddocks.

I don't care what anyone says, if I see a snake in my yard it's not going to be living for long!! out:

[Quasi]

Mother Nature will be happy to hear this one. She unfortunately lost her 4 legged best mate to a brownie a few days ago.

On another note, I watched my mother beat a 2 or 3 footer to death about 30 years ago, as it slithered accross our driveway. Mind you, she was using a wooden mixing spoon

[kiwikid]

mothers can do anything with wooden mixing spoons didnt you know that

[darkfang888]

including break them across my ****!

[Smoke Pursuit]

Bloody snakes.....

You got more balls then me, I cant go near the bloody things.. I guess if one was going to eat my dog Id probarly do something... (hopefully that never happens).

[lv619]

Good to hear your little Hero is well and good.


The best thing you can do is to prevent the snakes from entering your back yard in the first place, they are only trying to survive in this world too remember.

[blue fairy]

Glad to hear you were able to save Hero's life.

[sbutler]

That was an horrific story!!! croc dundee's got nothen on you!! Hope you the misses the cat & the puggs all ok now. What a story!!

[TheSneakiness]

That was a big bastard. Saw a fresh dead one yesterday about that long except this one had to be at least 4-6" thick too. Now it's about half a millimetre thick. :eclipsee_