Snakes are never out to get you (or your pets) intentionally. They strike when they feel provoked. That’s why awareness and action are two of the greatest tools, shares Durban vet and snake catcher, Dr Carla Goede.
Durban, South Africa (29 October 2025) – We all love taking photos and videos of our pets, but there’s one moment when your phone belongs firmly in your pocket, and that’s when your dog comes face-to-face with a snake.
Durban vet and reptile advocate Dr Carla Goede has seen too many cases where dogs lost their lives because their owners filmed a ‘snake vs dog’ showdown instead of stepping in. Yes, it’s shocking.
In just one year, a local snake-catching team logged around 80 venomous bites in dogs in Durban alone. Many of those pets never made it to the vet in time.
When people carelessly decide to record instead of acting, the chances of saving the dog drop dramatically, and it also makes the snake-catcher’s job far more dangerous.
“The owner does not follow these steps, and films the snake vs dog conflict through a window instead…The result is almost always two casualties – one dog that dies, and one injured or dead snake…By keeping an eye on your dog rather than your phone screen, you are giving two innocent animals a decent chance of survival,” says Dr Goede, who is currently completing her master’s through UP.
South Africa is home to some of the most incredible snakes on the planet, but with development, warmer weather, and a rise of rodents in urban areas, snake encounters are becoming more common in our suburbs and gardens.
And while they aren’t out to get us (or our pets), they will defend themselves if they feel cornered. For dogs, a curious sniff or a protective lunge often ends in a bite to the head or neck, and venom spreads through those areas far faster than it would from a human leg bite. That’s why dogs often don’t make it to treatment in time.
Raising awareness about snakes isn’t just about saving dogs – it’s about saving the snakes too. They do good work in our ecosystems. They keep rodent populations under control and play a crucial role in biodiversity.
When dogs and snakes clash, it usually ends badly for both animals. Neither of them deserve it.
What to do if your dog meets a snake Dr Goede’s golden rule? Act, don’t film.
- Get your dog away from the snake, without putting yourself in danger.
- Rush your dog to a vet that can treat snakebites – every minute counts.
- Call a qualified snake-catcher to relocate the snake safely.
And prevention is always better. Keep gardens tidy, leash dogs near bushy areas, and know which venomous snakes live in your region.
If a snake happens to slither into your yard, be the one who acts quickly.
Sources: Supplied
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