August 10, 2008

Trent, a 2-foot python, is recovering after being nailed to a pole. (Photo Courtesy of MSPCA)

BOSTON -- A 2-foot python is recovering well after being fastened to a telephone pole by roofing nails, in what a Massachusetts SPCA spokesman called one of the worst animal cruelty cases in that area in recent memory.

The snake, since named Trent, was discovered in May in Lawrence, attached to the pole by six 2-inch roofing nails, and may have suffered there for 20 hours.

“The cruelty that Trent went through has to be one of the more severe that we’ve seen, Brian Adams, spokesperson for Boston-based MSPCA-Angell, told Pet Pulse. “We do see severe cases, including a kitten that was allegedly micro waved, a dog that was attacked with a chainsaw, dogs that have been hung or shot, drowned.

“However, to think that somebody took the time that it would take to drive in nails through the body of a squirming snake. And hold it, and possibly have an accomplice to assist them.

“That’s what brings the severity to another level. Far and above that of hurting an animal, the time that they actually put in to treat Trent cruelly.”

The MSPCA has offered a $500 reward for information leading to the arrest of the person responsible for nailing the snake, but to no avail.

“There’s never been any tips at all, Adams said.

Trent has four small pieces of metal still in his body, but they are within his musculature and therefore are not expected to migrate elsewhere in his system, Adams says. The fragments will not be removed since they do not appear to be causing Trent discomfort.

“The wounds themselves appear to be healing fine without infection,” said Adams, adding that it looks like Trent will keep the end of his tail, which was in question when he was first brought in.

The snake is living with a foster mother, a veterinary technician that works at the MSPCA’s adoption center.

“Emotionally he’s becoming a bit more stable,” Adams said, citing the fact that Trent is shedding his skin and eating well.

“Now it seems that he does shy away from hands a little bit,” Adams said. “So when you’re holding him, his head might pull away a bit, or he might show that he’s otherwise a little bit wary of people handling him. But nothing aggressive, or anything like that.”

Trent’s exact age is unknown, but from his length he is believed to be a juvenile snake. After surviving his ordeal, the python is up for adoption. Being sheepish around people, Adams says, should be only temporary for Trent.

“We think that might be an after affect of being handled in a cruel manner when he was nailed to the telephone pole,” he said. “And we believe that he’ll come around from that, given time and a little bit of handling. Because he’s a very nice snake.”

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