19-year-old fights off python to save her pets – twice

On two occasions, a 19-year-old Pretoria resident has had to fight off a python to save her beloved dogs.

Both incidents have left the family, who stay in Roodeplaat, afraid to walk their dogs freely.

The most recent incident was on the afternoon of March 12 when Daniella de Kock and her mother were walking with their dogs.

Daniella suddenly heard one of the dogs crying and fighting.

“I immediately knew that something terrible was going on. I started to run towards my mother and the dog. When I arrived, she told me that something had bit my dog Coco and it was in the bush.

“We couldn’t see anything from the road, So I went into the camp slowly because I didn’t know what it was that bit him and I was cautious but when I got close I saw a big snake wrapped around my small dog.”

De Kock explained that she saw no life in her dog and thought that he was dead or close to death at that point.

“I just couldn’t stand and watch while the snake was killing my dog. So I grabbed the snake by its tail and started banging it against the ground about four times, my dog still coiled up in the snake.

“The snake lost its grip on my dog, probably to see what was going on. That is when I could see its head, I picked the part of the snake with my dog and tried to loosen its grip but it was too strong.

“I put it back on the ground and the next moment the snake was trying to attack me.

“I saw it lift about 1m off of the ground with its mouth wide open to bite me, but luckily I got out of the way fast enough for it to miss me. As its attention was on me now, it loosened its grip on my dog and my dog began to fight for his life again. I then grabbed my dog and moved away from the snake.”

In an earlier incident in February, a python had wrapped itself around the leg of her labrador while they were out for a walk. She kicked the snake about four times until it had loosened its grip and went back into the bush.

“I am fine and both of the dogs are unharmed, especially the little dachshund – it’s a miracle that he is fine because I was sure that he had died when I got there.

“The snake is also fine I am sure a miracle happened. Even though it will seem very small to some people, it was miraculous for me and my parents,” said De Kock.

Snake expert Arno Naude explained that pythons are not considered dangerous to humans; however, their diet includes jackals and so going after a dog is not that unusual.

“Snakes do not attack in the sense that they want to just bite or damage something. They will, however, go after their food with some vigour as they are never sure when the next meal will be.”

He advised that when encountering a snake to keep an eye on it as you retreat at least a snake body length away from it then turn and run.

For snakes in the area that are not wanted or in the event of a snake bite contact Arno at 083 739 9303.

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