Texas Officer Rescues Snake Stuck in Tree—Adopts It

A nearly five-foot-long boa constrictor found itself high and helpless in a Texas tree last week—until one animal control officer stepped in to help.

The snake, a domesticated pet, had somehow ended up outdoors and clinging to a limb, unable to survive on its own in the wild.

After being safely removed by the responding officer, the story could have ended there. But instead of handing the boa off to a shelter or rescue organization, animal control officer David Davis took a more personal route. He adopted her and named her Ruby.

“She needed a good home,” he told reporters. “And I felt like me and my son and my wife could give her one.”

While it’s still unclear how Ruby got loose in the first place, her rescue and adoption highlight a growing concern in animal control communities. What happens when exotic pets escape or are abandoned?

Boa constrictors, native to Central and South America, are non-venomous but can reach impressive lengths and require specific care. They’re popular in the pet trade, but ownership comes with responsibilities that aren’t always fully understood until it’s too late. Left in the wild, they pose risks not only to themselves but to local ecosystems.

Fortunately for Ruby, her story ends on a happy note—safely indoors, in the hands of someone trained to care for her, and now part of a family who stepped up to help.

Honestly, how could you not adopt that cutie? I mean… just look at her face. 👀