Injured Peninsula Snake Gets Outfitted With Unique Jaw Splint

BURLINGAME, CA — A slithery pet who at one point faced "a certain death sentence" is now fully healed — thanks to the use of a jaw splint — and in need of a new home, officials with the Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA said Wednesday. Named "Rocky Balboa," the boa constrictor is described as a sociable snake (bet you didn't know that was a thing) who would make a great pet.

"On October 22, 2017 a member of the public spotted the injured snake on the side of the highway and called us for help," said PHS/SPCA’s Communications Manager Buffy Martin Tarbox.

Animal rescuers found the snake along the westbound shoulder of Highway 92 near the Crystal Springs Reservoir in San Mateo County. She was badly injured and in need of medical attention.

"The snake had a severely swollen and broken jaw, which without treatment, is a certain death sentence since she was unable to eat," according to Martin Tarbox.

Martin Tarbox told Patch that the organization is not sure how long the female snake, who is about 3.5 to 4 feet long, had been out in the wild alone. Officials believe Rocky Balboa was indeed someone's pet, and that she was likely abandoned by an owner who thought she would be able to survive on her own.

The PHS/SPCA outfitted the boa constrictor with a makeshift splint to keep her jaw closed and provided her with pain medication and antibiotics.

"It was touch and go for a week and we weren’t sure she was going to make it," according to Tarbox. "She started to respond well to the treatment and after a few weeks the jaw had mended and she was able to eat on her own."

Staff gave the snake her new name "as a nod to the fictional boxer who overcame the odds and as a play on the snake’s boa constrictor species" Martin Tarbox said.

Now, Rocky Balboa is thriving and ready for her new forever home. She's described as "friendly" and "outgoing."

"Unlike many of the other reptiles we have up for adoption who stay in their hiding spots, she's not like that," Martin Tarbox said. "When someone comes into the room, she sort of perks up... she's a very social snake."

If you are interested in taking Rocky Balboa home, she's available for a $40 adoption fee at PHS/SPCA’s Center for Compassion at 1450 Rollins Road in Burlingame.

"Like all boa constrictors, Rocky Balboa does need specialized care and feeding," Martin Tarbox said in a news release. "PHS/SPCA strongly encourages the feeding of frozen, defrosted mice or rats which are available at most pet supply stores. Feeding live rodents is considered unnecessary and inhumane for the both the prey and the predator."

Some things for a new prospective owner to keep in mind are that the snake will require a large glass aquarium, heating lamps and "hidey spots."

Photos courtesy of PHS/SPCA