Robert Murray’s two dogs were playing in the backyard of their Glastonbury home when one of them began barking aggressively towards the ground. Murray initially assumed that his smaller dog, Listo, had discovered an injured bird or squirrel. However, as he approached the scene, his other dog, Tanner, also rushed to join the commotion. Murray soon realized that his dogs had spotted a venomous timber rattlesnake. Despite having recently undergone surgery and needing a cane to walk, Murray managed to intervene before any harm was caused.
As Murray attempted to push the snake away with his cane and called for his wife to bring leashes, it was already too late. The snake had already bitten both of their dogs in the face. In a hurry, Murray took the dogs to Pieper Veterinary Emergency Hospital in Middletown where they were administered anti-venom and other medications to stabilize them. Sadly, Listo’s face and neck started swelling quickly, leading to the closing off of his windpipe. An emergency tracheostomy was carried out at the hospital to help him breathe, as stated on their Facebook page. For several days, the dogs were constantly being monitored and treated as they recovered from the effects of the venom. With time, the intense swelling subsided, and the dogs eventually returned home. Tanner was the first to be discharged on Friday, and Listo followed on Saturday afternoon after being picked up from Pieper.
The dogs are currently recuperating at home and slowly adapting to their typical routines after experiencing a significant trauma to their bodies, according to Murray. Dr. Jessica Urbonas, who leads emergency services at Pieper, expressed her delight at the dogs’ discharge from the hospital and their ongoing recovery. She also noted that while Connecticut is not often associated with venomous snakes, it is home to two different types, including the endangered timber rattlesnake found in northwestern Litchfield County and the Meshomasic State Forest in East Hampton, Glastonbury, Marlborough, and Portland. Urbonas recommends that pet owners remain cautious and seek veterinary evaluation immediately if they notice any swelling or other symptoms. Additionally, she advises them to research local resources available in case of an emergency. Urbonas has observed one snake bite every summer during her 14-year tenure as an emergency animal doctor, and all bitten animals have survived due to prompt emergency care by their owners.
According to Urbonas, people in Connecticut often overlook the possibility of encountering venomous snakes. However, he believes it’s important to be aware of what to do in case of a snakebite. Living near Meshomasic State Forest, Murray frequently deals with timber rattlesnakes on his property. He recalls an incident where his previous dog, Tor, was bitten by a rattlesnake and had to be taken to Tufts University for treatment since no animal hospitals in Connecticut had anti-venom at the time. Murray is grateful that Pieper Memorial Veterinary Center has anti-venom available despite its high cost and short shelf-life, which most hospitals don’t carry.
Murray acknowledged Pieper’s commendable effort in acknowledging the sizeable rattlesnake population in the vicinity of Middletown, and fortunately for them, Pieper had anti-venom available. Their young companion would not have survived the trip to Tufts due to the rapid swelling. In case anyone comes across a timber rattlesnake, it is advised to step away from it calmly and slowly as sudden movements tend to startle snakes and may result in an aggressive strike. It is worth noting that timber rattlesnakes are safeguarded by the state’s Endangered Species Act and any individual found guilty of killing or collecting them may be subjected to legal penalties and fines, according to DEEP’s website.
