Disturbing photo highlights 'perfect opportunity' for isolation task
WARNING – DISTRESSING CONTENT: A Sunshine Coast snake catcher has suggested those in isolation should use the time to check on the stability of their outdoor pet pens and cages after an unfortunate discovery.
Stu McKenzie, from Sunshine Coast Snake Catchers 24/7, was called to a house in Sippy Downs on Friday after distraught pet owners discovered a carpet python was halfway through digesting their pet guinea pig.
Mr McKenzie told Yahoo News Australia the owners usually lock their pet inside its cage each afternoon, but on this occasion they left the guinea pig in the outdoor area of the pen “playing a little later than usual”.
The snake catcher said this wasn’t the first time he had been called to a snake making a meal out of a pet and his priority is to check if the pet was still alive. But in this case it was too late and the owners decided to bury their pet.
“Sometimes you can bring them (pets) back, but in this case they were unlucky,” Mr McKenzie said.
“Being in isolation is the perfect opportunity to make sure your pet enclosures are snake proof,” he wrote on his Facebook page along with the image of the python wrapped around the pet.
“Pythons will take advantage of poorly-made pet enclosures especially chicken coops and bird cages.”
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The snake catcher warned pythons were just “looking for a feed”, so it was up to owners to make sure their pets were safe from hungry snakes.
“It’s the perfect time to double check cages for gaps and holes, anything more than 1-2 cm is enough for a python to squeeze in,” he said.
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