AMHERST — A large boa constrictor being kept as a pet at a South Amherst home fatally injured a puppy on Wednesday afternoon.
Police officers and the animal welfare officer responded to a Country Corners Road home at 4:30 p.m. after getting a call from a pet-sitter that the boa constrictor was out of its tank and crushing a small dog by wrapping itself around the canine, said Police Detective Yvonne Feliciano. Both animals were owned by the same resident. Police shot and killed the snake at the scene after the owner was contacted and approved of the action.
When Animal Welfare Officer Carol Hepburn got to the home, the dog had already perished from its injuries. The snake was at least 6 feet long, Hepburn said.
“He was a pretty good-sized guy,” Hepburn said.
Hepburn snared the boa constrictor and dragged it out of the house. She said it was the first time she has had to deal with such an animal in the nearly 17 years she has served in her role, though she has encountered exotic animals in the past, including an alligator living at a home near the University of Massachusetts campus.
After the homeowner, who was overseas, was contacted, officers were instructed to humanely shoot the animal.
“She gave permission to have it destroyed,” Hepburn said.
Hepburn said the boa constrictor had been living in a large tank, but the cover may not have been secured or had enough weight on it, allowing the snake to get out. Once outside its tank, the boa constrictor may have mistaken the small dog for a rabbit or other smaller animal that it is accustomed to consuming, she said.
State regulations allow Massachusetts residents to keep any size boa constrictor without permits. Still, Hepburn cautions anyone who wants to own one to use extreme care.
“In my opinion, you really should do a lot of research before you have a large snake in your house, because it can do a lot of damage,” Hepburn said.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
