Kaye and Irvine Graham, vet Dr Ben Goddard and snakebite survivor Sherman.By Paul Dunlop
A PET dog is lucky to be alive after it was bitten by a snake in the heart of Pakenham.
Irvine and Kaye Graham were breathing a sigh of relief last week after vets saved the life of their adored Maltese Terrier cross Sherman.
Sherman was bitten, most likely by a tiger snake, while being walked in Henry Street.
The incident prompted a warning to residents to keep an eye out for snakes emerging early from winter hibernation.
Vet nurse Jean Hill said a snake bite so early in the year raised concerns for residents, particularly younger children.
“This day was our first taste of the warmer weather to come and with spring on the way, it is a sign of what to expect,” she said.
“There is so much development, snakes have nowhere else to go and are being forced into smaller areas to live. They are much more likely to come into contact with people.”
Mrs Graham said she also feared for others’ safety as a result of Sherman’s ordeal.
“I realise how lucky we were, it could have been a little child,” she said.
Mrs Graham said she was taking Sherman on his usual walk around the block when, on his lead, he trotted across the nature strip outside a property targeted for development.
The grass was somewhat overgrown, she said, and Sherman was checking things out when he suddenly yelped and leapt into the air.
“It was a bit traumatic. I didn’t know what had happened. When he jumped I thought he had a little thorn or something in his paw,” she said.
“The possibility of it being a snake had not crossed my mind.”
Mrs Graham carried Sherman home, little knowing that her dog had just received a potentially lethal dose of snake venom. Once home, the Grahams quickly realised their usually boisterous little dog was very ill and on the verge of collapse.
They quickly took Sherman to the Pakenham Veterinary Clinic where a blood test confirmed Dr Ben Goddard’s initial diagnosis.
Vet staff had immediately recognised Sherman’s condition as symptomatic of snake bite but said there was some doubt because of where the incident had occurred and the time of year.
Once Sherman was diagnosed, Dr Goddard was able to successfully administer treatment to the dog, who could have had only hours to live.
Mrs Hill said she had contacted Cardinia Shire Council to report the incident and to ask shire staff to ensure property owners kept blocks cleared and nature strips maintained.
Sherman has now gone back home to his loving parents who are continuing to nurse him back to health, which can take many weeks.
Mrs Graham said Sherman was much better. She paid tribute to the work of Dr Goddard and Mrs Hill and vet staff.
“They were wonderful,” she said.
