AN animal charity has hit out at irresponsible pet owners, after a snake died when found abandoned in a rubbish bag.

Bin men were in for a shock when a three-foot long royal python snake fell out of a box when they went to collect some rubbish in Chiltern Close, in Chelmsford on Tuesday, March 14, when they discovered a royal python hiding inside a box sitting on top of one of the bags.

The RSPCA was called, and Animal Collection Officer Joe White came to collect the snake.

Mr White found various reptile-keeping paraphernalia dumped in a nearby bin shed, along with another royal python, two-foot long, inside a tied-up bin bag.

Condemning the pets' treatment, he said: “These snakes had literally been chucked out with the rubbish.

“They were found amongst household waste as if someone had moved house and thrown away all their unwanted property - including the living reptiles.

“In the nearby bin shed there were vivariums and plastic tubs apparently used to keep the snakes in, and in the bin bag where one of the snakes was found there was also dirty paper, hides and rotting dead rats which I assume were used to feed them.

“Both snakes were freezing cold and lethargic but alive when I found them - and so I rushed them to a nearby wildlife hospital.

“Sadly the smaller one, found inside the bin bag, died en route. The other one has survived and is being cared for at South Essex Wildlife Hospital.

“These snakes are not native to the UK and so need to be kept in specific conditions with controlled temperatures that replicate their environment in the wild in order to survive - so neither of these snakes had any chance of survival if they had been left like that.”

The RSPCA is now investigating this abandonment and asks anyone with any information about how the animals came to be dumped in this way to call on 0300 123 8018.

The animal welfare charity urges anyone wanting to take on the care of an exotic pet like these snakes to remember they have a responsibility to care for them for their lifetime, and to do their research to ensure they can provide for their specialist needs.

To help the RSPCA carry out its rescue work please visit: www.rspca.org.uk/give or text LOVE to 87023 to give £3 (Text costs £3 + one standard network rate message).