Wild Kingdom in your yard

So a big wild python ate the family dog in Kuranda, Queensland, Australia the other day, while the kids watched in horror. Apparently the snake had been stalking the dog for days, even laying in wait for it in the dog's bed. I'm guessing the terrier/Chihuahua mutt was an outdoor dog. Now it's more of an inside pet. ;-)

The parents threw plastic chairs at the snake to try to get it to let go of the dog, to no avail. Guns are mostly banned in Australia, and the last I heard, they were also trying to ban knives with blades longer than (I think) four inches. After all, it is a former prison colony. Wouldn't do to have weapons in prison, you know. Especially weapons with which to fend off animals that eat your pets. Or which could eat your children.

I'm not clear why the parents didn't do something about this snake. Attack it with an axe. Shoo it away with a torch. Play Ozzy Osbourne at it (I think the vibrations would drive it away.) Call the zoo to come get it. Instead they just said, "hmm, big snake in the dog's bed today."

We have bobcats around, and even a panther (a flatlander mountain lion) lives nearby. They pretty much keep to themselves. We keep our pets indoors as a precaution. But you can bet that I would use whatever force necessary to keep one of those big cats from eating our pets.