This story was first published on March 22nd, 2011
Outline
Long circulated message claims that an attached photograph shows Bronson, a black Labrador Retriever with a deadly copperhead snake wrapped around his snout.
Brief Analysis
The claims in the message are true and the photograph is genuine. Bronson’s encounter with the snake took place in January 2010.
Example
Subject: FW: Black Lab Comes Home With Deadly Snake Around His Snout
You’re never too old to do something stupid
Black Lab Comes Home With Deadly Snake Wrapped Around His Snout
Bronson is a retriever Extraordinaire.
Ducks are his specialty, and sometimes cell phones and other out-of-place odds and ends.
But this 11-year-old black lab recently came up to his owners with a startling quarry; A deadly copperhead snake. As you can see by the photo, the snake was coiled around his snout.
The snake’s head appears to be clamped firmly in Bronson’s mouth and Bronson looks rather forlorn at his predicament. This Australian dog was lucky his owners, Deborah and Peter Allen were home when he arrived with his frightening muzzle. While they quickly tried to figure out what to do, Deborah grabbed a camera and snapped this shot to document the event.
Image credit: Deborah Allen
Detailed Analysis
This message, which discusses labrador retriever, Bronson’s encounter with a venomous copperhead snake, circulates via email and has also been posted to many blogs and online forums.
The message includes a photograph of Bronson after he returned home with the deadly reptile coiled around his snout. The circulating message was originally posted on the Dogstar blog.
The information in the message is true and the photograph is genuine. Bronson’s adventure took place back in January 2010 near Yarragon, in the Australian state of Victoria. A January 18, 2010, Herald Sun article about Bronson confirms the information in the message, noting:
HE’S never had a nose for trouble before but black labrador Bronson sure knows how to turn heads with his retrieving tricks.
The champion obedience dog stunned his Victorian owners when he recently returned to them to proudly show off his latest find.
Locked firmly in his jaws and coiled around his snout was a long, live snake, believed to be a deadly copperhead.
Bronson was bitten by the snake during his encounter. However, the Herald Sun article notes that he recovered fully and returned home after four days in the hospital.
