Woman Saves Her Dog from Python Attack

A woman in Australia heard strange yelps coming from outside her home, and ran out to find her dog being constricted by a python. She immediately grabbed its tail and started yanking it away from her terrier. Eventually she was able to disentangle the eight foot snake from her pet, and saved the dog’s life. During the struggle she had no regard for her own safety, just the focus of a life or death battle to protect her animal. She said, “It was all a bit of a blur, I just did the first thing that came to mind.”

Brenda Von Bovene is five feet and one inch tall. She had actually seen over a dozen snakes on her property recently. Though only one was as large as the python. Reportedly, snakes have been seen near residences in Australia more frequently recently. The snake that attacked Ms. Von Bovene’s dog was captured and relocated to the bush. The dog (Tammy) suffered some bruising, but is overall in good health.

Brenda made an excellent point about the safety of infants and other children in the area, “A snake (as big as that which attacked Tammy) could easily do the same to an infant.”

In March of this year, a python that had already eaten a dog, tried to ingest another dog. A month before, a scrub python consumed a 70 pound goat. Two years ago, a 16 foot python ate a family’s dog in Brisbane. This snake was also relocated to the bush.

Image Credit: whiskeymac / Flickr Creative Commons

Read more: Community, Life, Nature & Wildlife, Pets, Wildlife, pythons, snake attacks

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
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Suzanne L.

8:41PM PST on Feb 11, 2012

Glad the dog was unharmed.

send a green star

janet h.

8:35PM PST on Feb 11, 2012

Why is there not a bounty system put in place to catch and kill pythons in Florida? I would think that python skins could also be used to make boots, purses and other objects. I am sure there are people out there who would accept this challenge for the money making side of it. Do it at your own risk of course.

Caitlin G.

3:10PM PST on Nov 28, 2011

Amazing that she did not kill the snake out of protection for her pet! I love all animals, and never want to have to hurt one or kill one, especially when it is only acting naturally, but if it were something like this, I could see myself not even thinking like that and killing the snake to protect my furry family members. :/

Glenda L.

3:56AM PST on Nov 25, 2011

Good job!! They should find out why they're seeing them more often, is something interfering with their normal food supply?

Cheryl B.

6:53PM PST on Nov 9, 2011

wow

Elizabeth O.

8:59PM PDT on Jul 23, 2010

Well done for saving her dog and not killing the snake.

SANDRA R.

3:11AM PDT on Jun 30, 2010

Great story! Thank you Jake !!!

Amy C.

1:51PM PDT on Jun 28, 2010

Yes, it is great that she didn't kill the animal. However, in her own words, she did the first thing that came to mind. If the first thing that came to her mind was "I'd better get the gun and shoot the animal" or "I've got to hack it's head off with a garden hoe" then she would have probably done that. But she didn't and that's why the snake was not killed. I don't think that the reason this story was posted was because she didn't harm the snake, that just happens to be coincidental.

Gysele v.

8:38PM PDT on Jun 27, 2010

i'm glad no one and no animal involved got hurt.

Michael H.

6:37PM PDT on Jun 27, 2010

Thwn the predatator is going for the prey who do you cheer for? In this case the dog