Leander Residents Report Pets Bitten By Rattlesnakes

LEANDER, TEXAS — In one Leander neighborhood, pets are experiencing close encounters of the reptilian kind, as in rattlesnakes. Several pets have been bitten in the past few days, including a pair of Boston Terriers struck by snake fangs in the face, according to reports.

The rash of snake bites has occurred at homes in the North Creek subdivision in Leander, according to KXAN. Jodi Chandler told the news station she let her two Boston terriers go outside last Thursday only to have them both bitten on the face by a rattlenake.

Thankfully, the dogs were okay but left with severely swollen mugs resulting in costly veterinary care, she told the news station.

Another resident just a block away, Micah Brown reported finding a baby rattlesnake in his flowerbed as he tended to his yard, according to the report. Other neighbors have reported similar events, with police responding to another pair of rattlesnake calls last week, a city spokesman told KXAN.

Lloye Acevedo told the news station she's been extra vigilant of her own three dogs in the wake of recent attacks. She noted that in the 18 years she's lived in the subdivision, she's never encountered snakes. "I ton't like it," she told the news station. "I don't like it at all."

On the same block as Acevedo, two neighbors reportedly killed a pair of rattlesnakes in their respective yards, according to the news station.

Samuel Morehead, a local veterinarian at the Leander Veterinary Clinic, told KXAN he's treated more than two dozen animals for snake bites recently — a number he categorized as unusually high.

It's being speculated that municipal growth may be to blame for the rash of snake bites. City officials point to new development near Devine Lake Park as likely driving snakes from their habitats there into Northcreek subdivision neighborhoods, according to the report.

It's always advisable to remove debris from properties that can be inviting hiding or resting places for snakes. This includes not just remving lumber or firewood, but moving furniture and trimming overgrown grass and bushes.

The Dogster website offers some helpful tips on keeping your pets safe from rattlesnake bites:

• Get your dogs the rattlesnake vaccine, approved by the USDA in the form of rattlesnake venom vaccine nationwide in 2004. Dr. Dana DePerno, veterinarian and co-owner at Malibu Coast Animal Hospital, recommends one vaccine to start and another booster six months later, according to the site. The vaccine is said to be safe for any dog more than six months old, with the only side effect being that occasionally a dog will develop a small swelling under the skin at the injection site. Those opting for this safeguard should know that it's not a cure should your pooch get bitten. It lessens dogs' reactions to the venom, buying owners more time to get to the vet. Most clinics charge about $50 per injection.
• Hire a snake removal service. These professionals know exactly what to look for on properties at the start of every season, whacking at bushes and clearing away debris that might harbor snakes, according to the site. The author noted 15 snakes were humanely removed from a yard, yielding the confidence to walk across the yard unafraid of lurking rattlesnakes.
• When hiking, keep your dog on a leash. Dogs often go off the trails in their exuberance of being in the great outdoors, but they sometimes roam into areas where snakes lurk. It's best to stick to the trails when hiking while still being vigilant when walking.
• Educate yourself to rattlesnake behavior. Common pit vipers can be found throughout North America, with the highest concentration in Texas and Arizona. They live in all manner of landscapes: Desert ranges, marshes, prairies an forests. Remember, snakes like to hide under things such as old tires, woodpiles and fallen logs. In the springtime, they like to be out the entire day and tend to come out only when the heat o the sun is weakest in the summertime. Be aware, too, that snakes are adept swimmers and can be found in bodies of water.
• Enroll your dog in rattlesnake avoidance training. The blog's author describes this dog classes as something of a canine obstacle course with actual snakes strategically placed but affixed with a contraption atop their heads preventing them from biting. When dogs participating in the class give in to their curiosity and approach the snakes for a better look, they receive a low-grade shock. The blogger notes it was heartbreaking to watch the doggies getting those shocks, but ultimately decided how better it is to be shocked than to get a stinging dose of venom from a biting snake. Such rattlesnake avoidance training classes cost between $75 to $100, a tad pricey but for a pet lover money well spent.

Read more on dogs and rattlesnakes from Dogster:

• How to Keep Your Dog Safe During Rattlesnake Season
• Rattlesnake Safety for Dogs
• Would You Subject Your Dog to a Shock Collar if It Would Save Him From a Rattlesnake?

Read the full story at KXAN

Get Patch's Daily Newsletters and Real Time Alerts

>>> Image via Shutterstock