The Guelph Humane Society is no stranger to reuniting families with their beloved pets, but now they are on the hunt for the owners of a five-foot-long snake. The boa constrictor was found near the corner of Eliza Street and Wells Street in Arthur on Aug. 8. “A community member had actually very kindly contained the snake prior to calling us,” Katherine Leonard, manager of community services for the Guelph Humane Society, said. “They were able to safely transport the snake in a large plastic container.” Despite its large size, the snake is not considered dangerous. “[It’s] pretty harmless, I think about 10 pounds. We have them at five kilos or so,” said Alex Brown, the Guelph Humane Society’s director of veterinary care. “I wouldn’t leave a baby around the snake unattended. I wouldn’t leave a very small dog or a cat. Even then, I think the dog or cat would probably come out on top.” Brown said snakes are known escape artists, but they are also often abandoned. “We’d worry about the owners not realizing how big they are, not having a plan for when they get bigger and then letting them go,” Brown said. Some snakes can also live for several decades. “At least 40 years,” Brown said. “We would expect to have seen them, personally, at 40-years-old. That’s a tough commitment. A lot of people get them in their younger years and you don’t know what your life will look like 40 years later.” The Humane Society hopes to find the snake’s owner. “In the event that the snake is unclaimed, we will look for a new home for it,” Leonard explained. “Not every municipality allows for snakes in their animal control bylaws. We do encourage everybody to check with their local municipality before applying to adopt the snake.” Guelph’s animal control bylaw does not specifically mention boa constrictors.
