'Must have been a surprise to find 8ft snake in shed'

The RSPCA is warning people who want to keep exotic pets to research what they are letting themselves in for, before making the commitment.

The warning comes after an eight-foot-long snake was found in a shed at an allotment in Andover, Hampshire.

The charity was contacted by a member of the public who made the discovery on Thursday 14th June. The organisation is not sure how the snake got there and have put out an appeal for the owner to come forward.

One suggestion, is that the animal may have been abandoned. Phil Hamilton, the RSPCA exotics officer who rescued the snake said that they want to stress to people that they should find out beforehand what keeping an exotic pet entails before bringing one into their family home.

Reptile experts at the RSPCA are looking after the snake until its owners are found, or at least until they can find a new home for the animal. The organisation said that it has dozens of reptiles needing new homes with knowledgeable new owners who can look after the animals properly. The organisation has a website with information about rehoming reptiles.