Kacey-Leigh Moss, a 21-year-old resident of Burnley, was left shaken after discovering a snake’s head on her toilet seat at 6am on a Friday morning. The sudden and unexpected sight sent her running to fetch her boyfriend, Harvey, who was initially skeptical about the claim, given that they do not own any snakes.
As Kacey-Leigh recounted the incident, she described how she had woken up early to use the bathroom and, upon turning on the light, noticed the snake’s head lying on the toilet seat. It was all spiraled inside the toilet, and Kacey-Leigh said she froze in shock. “I’d never been so scared in my life,” she said, recalling the moment. “I was really shocked, I didn’t know what to do. I ran into the bedroom and told my boyfriend and he didn’t believe me at first until he went to go look.”
Harvey eventually went to investigate and, with the help of Kacey-Leigh’s phone camera, managed to capture some close-up pictures of the snake. However, as he got closer, the snake suddenly jumped at him, causing both of them to jump back in surprise. With the snake still lurking in the toilet, Kacey-Leigh and Harvey had to wait until the RSPCA opened at 8am to contact them for assistance.
The RSPCA officer who arrived at their home at 11am attempted to remove the snake using a hook but unfortunately, it slithered back down the pipes, leaving Kacey-Leigh feeling petrified. “I feel awful that it’s potentially lurking in my pipes still,” she said. “I’m petrified, I can’t even go for a wee.” Kacey-Leigh has been too afraid to use the toilet since the incident and has been staying at home to see if the snake moves back up.
The RSPCA officer who attended the scene estimated that the snake might be a corn snake and suggested that if Kacey-Leigh saw the snake again, they would come back out to collect it. However, Kacey-Leigh is unsure how the snake ended up in her toilet in the first place. “I don’t know whether it’s from the sewers, whether it’s somebody’s pet that’s escaped from my street,” she said. “I genuinely don’t know.”
The RSPCA officer mentioned that it was unusual for snakes to live in water because they cannot breathe underwater. However, it is possible that the snake had been living in the toilet for some time, as Kacey-Leigh mentioned that the toilet hadn’t been flushing very well for a few weeks prior to the incident.
The RSPCA has issued a warning about the importance of ensuring that vivariums are kept secure and locked to prevent accidental escape. They have also advised pet owners to microchip their snakes if possible, so that they can be easily reunited if lost and found.
This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of being prepared for unexpected situations and having a plan in place for emergencies. While Kacey-Leigh is still shaken by her experience, she is grateful that the snake did not cause any harm and is hoping that it will be safely removed soon.
An RSPCA spokesperson commented on the incident, saying: “It must have been quite a shock for the householder to see a snake popping their head up in the toilet. The resident who contacted the RSPCA for help told our Animal Rescue Officer (ARO) that the toilet hadn’t been flushing very well for a few weeks, so this slithery visitor may have been lurking in the pipes for some time.”
The spokesperson also mentioned that snakes are talented escape artists and will take the opportunity of a gap in an enclosure door or a loose-fitting lid to make a ‘run’ for it. They advise owners to ensure vivariums are kept secure and locked if necessary to prevent accidental escape.
The spokesperson added: “Our officers have been called to snakes who have been found in lots of unusual places including in a vacuum cleaner, in an oven and in a kitchen drawer! It is possible to microchip pet snakes and the RSPCA would recommend that owners ask their vet to do this where possible, so that snakes can be easily reunited if lost and found.”
In conclusion, Kacey-Leigh’s experience serves as a reminder of the importance of being prepared for unexpected situations and having a plan in place for emergencies. While she is still shaken by her experience, she is grateful that the snake did not cause any harm and is hoping that it will be safely removed soon.