You Shouldn't Try To Recycle Your Snakes

On Wednesday night, Stamford Police brought the Stamford Animal Care & Control Office a surprise wrapped in a pillow case: An 8-foot long Red Tailed Boa Constrictor, Director Laurie Hollywood reported.

The snake was recovered from a recycling bin at Roosevelt Avenue and Grenhart Road, police reported. Hollywood said the snake was identified as a male, and the it had an abcess on the corner of its mouth. It also appeared to be underweight, possibly because the abcess was making eating too painful for the snake.

It was also very cold, she said, which was odd because snakes typically like to keep themselves in warm places. 

The snake was taken to South Wilton Animal Hospital, which handles exotic pets. The snake is not indigenous to the area, so Hollywood believes it was being kept in a domestic environment, but no one has called the center looking for the animal, she said.

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Officer Tilford Cobb helped free a skunk who got his head stuck in a dumpster (see adorable photo).

The little guy was found on Wednesday with his head poking out of a recepticle on Southfield Ave. Cobb ended up being sprayed during the rescue.

Hollywood said tomato juice is an old wives tale that doesn't really work. She said you can either purchase a product called "Skunk-Off," which has worked best in their estimation, or created a home-brew tonic, instructions included below:

• 1 quart hydrogen-peroxide (fresher, the better)
• 1/4 cup baking soda
• 1 teaspoon liquid dish soap (mild dove,not anti-bacterial)

Combine and use in shower. Apply prior to using water. Safe for use with animals as well.

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A guinea pig was left outside of the Animal Care & Control offices with a cage, food and bedding.

The guinea pig was also brought to South Wilton Animal Hospital to get checked out, and medical staff warned not to bring the snake and guinea pig over in the same container!

The female furball was checked out and determined to be fine. She'll be available for adoption by the end of the week. For $5, the adopting hom gets the guinea pig, cage, food and betting, Hollywood said.