A Gembrook resident is warning pet owners to stay alert this spring after his beloved dog, Hachi, almost died from a suspected Copperhead or Tiger snake that left him blind and fighting for life.
Kevin O’Sullivan said it was just after dusk on Saturday 1 November when he noticed something was seriously wrong with his 55kg dog.
“I let Hachi in for the evening and noticed his eyes were bulging out of his head and he was breathing heavily,” Mr O’Sullivan said.
By the time he called and visited his local vet after hours, Hachi was blind.
Unable to confirm a snakebite on-site, the vet referred him to the emergency team at Casey Animal Hospital.
“The drive there was horrible. He was in agony and making sounds I don’t want to hear again,” he recalled.
“His temperature was over 42 degrees when we arrived. They said he could have brain damage.”
It took three doses of antivenom and three days in intensive care to stabilise Hachi, who was on a respirator and remained in critical condition for the first few days.
“He pulled through thanks to the amazing staff at Casey,” Mr O’Sullivan said.
“His sight has returned, and he’s getting stronger every day but it will take six to eight weeks for full recovery.”
The treatment has cost the O’Sullivan family more than $13,500 so far, with more bills expected as Hachi continues to recover.
“It’s a lot of money, and we definitely feel it but he’s priceless to us,” Mr O’Sullivan said.
It’s not just in the hills where snakes are being spotted. In Berwick, a local resident came across one while walking her dog at Bayview Park Equestrian Track on 6 November.
“I thought it was a stick at first. When my dog paused, I recognised it as a snake and gently manoeuvred her away,” Ms Scott said.
Local snake catcher Neil Haesler is also seeing a drastic spike in calls this season, with up to 8 callouts a day.
“Six caught and eight call outs in total just by myself. It’s been extremely busy,” he said.
“We’ve had sightings everywhere — Clyde, Sandhurst, Officer, Langwarrin , Frankston North, Botanic Ridge and Cranbourne South.”
The most common snakes in Melbourne’s southeast are the Lowland Copperhead, Tiger Snake, and Red-bellied Black Snake.
“All of these snakes are rated in the top ten most venomous snakes in the world,” Mr Haesler said.
“Spring time is the time for snakes to mate and there can be several snakes in the one area looking for a partner.”
He urged residents not to try catching or killing snakes, as it’s both illegal and dangerous.
If a snake enters a yard or residential area, Mr Haesler advises calling a licensed snake catcher or contacting the local council if on public land.
Pet owners should consider having a snake catcher conduct a property check after a snake has bitten an animal, as the snake may still be nearby.
For assistance, contact Neil Haesler on 0418130728 or find your nearest licensed snake catcher via snakecatchers.com
