Woman wakes up to a 'cute' snake

By CLARA HO, SUN MEDIA
The Edmonton Sun

A woman awoke yesterday morning to a slithering surprise.

A snake had made its way into her Garneau-area suite in an 8210 111 St. highrise just after midnight, said a city spokesman, who said the serpent was "thinner than a pencil and coiled up in (the woman's) hand."

It was dropped off at an emergency veterinary hospital overnight and picked up by the city's animal services at about 7:30 a.m.

Animal services director David Leeb said he can't speak to any details on the 12-inch serpent's whereabouts before it ended up at the animal hospital.

JUST A BABY

But he assured that the "cute, little snake," which appears to be a boa constrictor, is doing just fine.

"He looks quite content, well-fed, and friendly," Leeb said. "It's a baby, not a terrifying-looking thing."

The snake will be held for up to 10 days in a facility for stray pets to be reclaimed by its owner.

If unclaimed, it will likely be sent to a group such as the Edmonton Reptile and Amphibian Society, Leeb said.

While not unheard of, Leeb said animal services rarely have reptiles in their care.

In 2008, the facility held more than 3,000 dogs, more than 4,000 cats, and some 157 other animals, which included rabbits, birds, snakes, as well as a pair of pot-bellied pigs and a sheep.

The Edmonton Humane Society also receives very few reptiles, said society spokesman Shawna Randolph. And when they do, they are often surrendered to the shelter by their owners.

"We are seeing more and more of them here, but it is unusual," she said.

Currently, the society has one reptile - a gecko - in foster care.

There was a snake at the facility last month, but it has since been adopted.

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/WeirdNews/2009/03/17/8777401-sun.html