Hong Kong woman wrestles 15 foot burmese python

[Bung-Eye]

HONG KONG (AFP) - A woman threw herself into battle with a giant snake after it tried to strangle her pet dog to death, a Hong Kong newspaper reported Sunday.
Catherine Leonard was walking in a country park when the 4.5-metre (15-foot) long Burmese python attacked her beloved Poppy.
Leonard, 41, rushed to the rescue, grappling with the huge snake as one of her other dogs barked furiously in alarm, the South China Morning Post reported.
"I kicked it and I tried to pull Poppy free. The snake was twisted around her, that was the problem," she said. "Somehow Poppy managed to get away and the python slithered away.
"I was very shaken afterwards and really scared. If I'd had the chance to think about it, I wouldn't have done what I did, but I heard the dog in distress and I just waded in there."


The attack on four-year-old Poppy took place in Sai Kung country park, close to where a 22-kilogramme husky dog was crushed to death by a snake last year when the owner's similar rescue attempt was unsuccessful.
A python caught and ate a calf in the park last month.
"Catherine was very courageous and definitely saved her dog's life," professional snake catcher Dave Willott said. "It would have been unconscious within two minutes and dead within five.
"The snake probably thought, 'I've had enough of this' and let go, which was unusual. They usually don't let go, not when they've locked onto their prey."
Burmese pythons are one of the world's largest snakes and can grow to six metres long and weigh over 100 kilos.
Willott advised anyone tempted to rescue a dog being crushed by a python to "start at the tail and get the coils off the dog and leave the head until last."

http://au.news.yahoo.com/070916/19/14frq.html

 

[cris]

haha that would have been funny to watch.

 

[PhilK]

What kind of a Chinese name is Catherine Leonard?

 

[Lucas]

A Chinese name with anglo influence I guess.

 

[moosenoose]

How the hell did the dog get away??? :lol: That's a miracle in itself! :shock: I think she should change the dogs name to Houdini

 

[Bung-Eye]

How the hell did the dog get away??? :lol: That's a miracle in itself! :shock: I think she should change the dogs name to Houdini

for sure... what are the odds

 

[krusty]

thats so cool.

 

[angel_saza]

I should go find this park.. I'm in Hong Kong now, lol.

 

[Lucas]

the woman might not be around to save you though.

 

[Moonfox]

Wow, I didn't know retics just showed up in random parks in Hong Kong... Awesome . Good on her for rescuing her dog, would have been funny to watch as long as the snake wasn't too beat up. :lol:

 

[RevDaniel]

A good thing the snake did not turn on her. Lucky mutt

 

[sockbat]

Its not fair to deprive the poor snake of a good feed. It was only doing what comes naturally and the stupid women should have her mut on a lead.

 

[Trouble]

GO SNAKEY
Stupid lady, I bet it was 1 of those little yappy dogs as well LOL