Jamie PandaramThe mother of an American man who was strangled to death by his pet snake has refused to consider putting the animal down because her son wouldn't want it harmed. Elaine Dres's only son Ted died yesterday after he slipped while entering the cage he built to house his four-metre boa constrictor at his home in Cincinnati, Ohio. Sensing its owner was dazed, the python wrapped itself around Mr Dres's neck and choked the life out of him. When officers arrived, the snake had to be pried off by three people.
Mrs Dres, who lost her husband two years ago in December, told smh.com.au Ted had loved snakes since he was a little boy. "I still can't believe Ted is gone, I have to stop myself from thinking he is going to call me - I just can't even comprehend what has happened,'' Mrs Dres, 76, said. "Ever since he was about 14 he has had snakes. I think a friend of his in grade school had one and so he got a snake, he could find you a snake in the woods in five minutes.
"I couldn't have the snake put down, Ted wouldn't want that. Even though it killed him, Ted wouldn't want it harmed.
"It's now at the SPCA, I couldn't take it.''
Mr Dres's funeral will be held on Thursday (US time) with the burial to be done the following day. "He didn't have any children, he wasn't married,'' Mrs Dres said. "He had loads of friends.
And one big snake.
"I have five children, Ted was the only boy. His sisters aren't doing too well over this.''
Mr Dres had owned this particular snake for about 11 years but it is not known if he had given his pet a name. "He had a special cage built for his python. He was going into the cage and I don't know if he slipped or what, but he fell as he was reaching for the snake,'' Mrs Dres said. "The snake sensed that Ted was dazed and wrapped itself around him.
Like any loving pet would do.
"If Ted hadn't fallen this wouldn't have happened.''
Ted's cousin James Dres found out about the death through a television report and said he was shocked and distressed.