He is ok. I guess it had to happen eventually. I went to call him for breakfast yesterday and here he was with another snake and both of them were pretty angry. I tried to grab him but he kept running away and the snake was putting on a fair turn as well. Then he'd let it go and it was striking at him. I was screaming like a banshee but he paid no attention and then I saw the snake strike and Barney jumped about 3 feet in the air and I knew then that he'd been bitten. But he grabbed the snake again and took off down the back yard and I grabbed a shovel. They were both under the boat and the snake came out just as Barney bit me on the ankle so I was convinced the snake had bitten me! More screaming! Long story short, the poor snake came shooting out from under the boat and I brought the shovel down on his neck and chopped his head off. I feel really bad about it but by this time, I was almost hysterical. Came in and phoned the vet, took him down, along with the snake in a bag. He's been bitten on the eyelid but his eye is not punctured. The vet thinks it is just a tree snake and gave Barney a shot as well as two lots of drugs to take (that is a lot of fun!) He seems ok but very slow. At the worst, the skin above his eye might die and have to be surgically removed which would cause eye problems but the vet said don't even think about that just yet. Wait and see what happens. Oh what a way to spend Sunday morning!
Diann in Australia
Diann in Australia