16-Foot Python Eats Family Dog

Australian Snake Stalked Pet For Days Before Swallowing It In Front Of Horrified Children

(AP)  A 16-foot python stalked a family dog for days before swallowing the pet whole in front of horrified children in the Australian tropics, animal experts said Wednesday.

The boy and girl, ages 5 and 7, watched as the scrub python devoured their silky terrier-Chihuahua crossbreed Monday at their home near Kuranda in Queensland state.

Stuart Douglas, owner of the Australian Venom Zoo in Kuranda, said scrub pythons typically eat wild animals such as wallabies, a smaller relative of the kangaroo, but sometimes turn to pets in urban areas.

"It actively stalked the dog for a number of days," Douglas said.

"The family that owned the dog had actually seen it in the dog's bed, which was a sign it was out to get it," he added.

"They should have called me then, but (the snake) got away and three or four days later, I was called and went around and removed it" after the dog had been killed, Douglas said.

By the time Douglas arrived, all that could be seen of the dog was its hind legs and tail.

The zoo manager, Todd Rose, said pythons squeeze their prey to death before swallowing it whole. The 5-year-old dog would have been suffocated within minutes.

"The lady who was there threw some plastic chairs at the snake, but you've got to remember that this is about 50 kilograms (110 pounds) of aggressive muscle," Rose said.

Removing the half-swallowed dog could have harmed or even killed the python, Rose said, because dogs have sharp teeth and claws that could do the snake internal damage if it were wrenched out.

The snake was still digesting the dog at the zoo Wednesday. It will soon be relocated to the bush, Douglas said.

[snakesrcool]

I love it!

[squrrley]

A few years back I kelled one a Python it was about an 8 footer in my home near my pecon trees I have squirrels and I could hear my squirrels shurpping I went to investigate when I saw the Python it was white I shot it, it must have belong to someone and they could not feed it any more so they turn it lose. This snaks do not belong here in the U.S.A. they can destory our ecosystem our pets

[ynot12007]

I hate snakes. Perhaps, others do but I do not. Being a dog person, I would have found a way to save my pet. Snakes do not belong in someone''s house, "PERIOD". Dogs and cats yes snakes, NO.

[iceman_1960]

RE: Post by guysdigdirt at 01:24 PM : Feb 28, 2008

Is that not the reason Cheney goes hunting ?

Or can you ***-ume some other motive.

[l00ker]

You''ll start hearing more stories like this, from the southern U.S., because many of these owners release these snakes into the wild, after they have become to large to handle. And unfortunely, someone will lose a small child as a result of it.

[guysdigdirt]

Human beings like D*ick Cheney stalk and kill animals just for the fun of it.

That"s called "sportsmanship.""
Posted by Iceman_1960

You assume much. And I do mean you assu, cuz the only person you make an a$$ of is you.

[iceman_1960]

"The world should get rid of all snakes!"
-Posted by bunnybaum at 10:53 AM : Feb 28, 2008
-----------

Beware the Law of Unintended Consequences.

Snakes are a major control on rodents. Get rid of all snakes, and the resulting explosion in the population of mice and rats would destroy the ecosystem and possibly lead to the destruction of the human race.

[bunnybaum]

I say "Shoot the snake". The only good snake is a dead one. I feel for the family. I have a mini Shih-Tzu and consider him a part of my family. The world should get rid of all snakes!

[minnick8-2009]

Has a python ever eaten a child? Maybe the family should be glad the snake only ate the dog.

[pensacola88]

I remember being sent out to go get the newspaper for my father and watching a cat have babies and then eat them! It was not my cat and I had no bond with any pet, but the event was strange. A few years ago an alligator robbed my fish on a stringer and even ate the six foot chain. Animals attack for food out of need.

It is sad that a snake competed with two small children for their pet dog. I am sad that they suffer such a loss!

Hopefully they will be taught to accept nature on its terms, not try to control it.

[iceman_1960]

"About the 2nd page of Genesis it says humans and snakes will be enemies."
- Posted by runningralph at 08:18 AM : Feb 28, 2008

What does it say about snakes and chihuahuas ?

[iceman_1960]

"16-Foot Python Eats Family Dog..."It actively stalked the dog for a number of days"
---------------------

Well, the snake needed to eat to survive.

Human beings like D*ick Cheney stalk and kill animals just for the fun of it.

That"s called "sportsmanship.""

[runningralph]

About the 2nd page of Genesis it says humans and snakes will be enemies. They should not be kept roaming around a home. On the other hand, I''ve never seen a chihuahua that I ddn''t want to feed to a python.

[stupidrules3]

If this chihuahua mix had the temperament of a chihuahua, he probably thought he could take out the snake and attacked it. Kind of like bringing a knife to a gunfight. I have always believed that if it weren''t for humans spoiling and protecting them chihuahuas would be extinct.

[skeezix06]

Newsflash Scarlet. I don''t care about the snake. According to yahoo, pythons are apparently going to become part of the scenery for the bottom third of the U.S. If I see one of them near me I''m going to look a way to kill it.

[elimeric]

How the hell can the snake do that?

[elimeric]

Holy ***!!! Are you kidding me? A chihuaha? As the famous line in "Ghost Hunters" is stated... "Dude, Run!!!!"

Run for your *** life! The snake is coming to get ya!

Anyways, I would try and do anything to stop that snake from coming back to the house....

[hawksprings]

Ummmm, Chihuahua... tastes like Mexican Chicken!

[Syndicate]

Me too.

[bb19631]

I hate snakes!!