A visitor to Dominica from the United Kingdom got a shock of her life early Wednesday morning when she discovered a huge snake in the house she is living in at Salisbury.
According to information received by DNO, the visitor was in bed with her cousin’s baby and listening to music with her headphones on, at around 3:00 am, when she felt something slippery on her hand.
She shook off whatever it was and went to turn on the light.
It was then she noticed the snake.
Frightened, the visitor dialed 911 but she said she was told the matter was not an emergency and she should contact the Forestry Division instead.
About three hours later, they were eventually rescued from the house and the snake was taken away.
Look a good way to get your tenants to leave your house, when they refuse to pay their rent. Slide a couple Cobras under de door. They mus liv pronto.
Whoever told the woman “this is not an emergency” should be looking for a job.
Whoevere received this call should assisted the woman with help 911 must help no mattter what the problem is.
911 is only supposed to be for emergencies.
I thought our emergency # was 999
You think them fellas were going to interrupt their sleep to catch a snake at 3 am?
Maybe they were more scared of the snake than the woman.
Even snakes need sex. As the Mighty Sparrow would say, probably he: “Never eat a white meat yet”. Lol!
You are so ignorant
Just a joke, don’t take things so seriously. If you really want a joke, look at the NASA logo. A snake with a forked tongue and you still believe their lies
Now that’s funny :D
Totally rude and inconsiderate. DNO should not have published this vulgar statement
Why don’t you ask the snake of his opinion? I bet he was rolling about in laughter! C’mon, it was funny
Good piece of humour lol
This is an ignorant, crude, and vile statement to make. Sorry, but you give people the impression that you are a low class person.
Are you a typical Dominican? No, I do not think so. They are not this way. You shame the good people of Dominica. Also, DNO deserves better. I am surprised they would publish you.
What you need is the grace of God to transform your life. Sin degrades the character, warps the personality, impairs the judgment, and diminishes one’s prospects. The grace of God blots out our sins,
and changes us from the inside out. This is made possible because Christ bore our sins on the cross. When we believe in Him and receive Him as our Savior a new life begins.
“……the blood of Jesus Christ (God’s) Son cleanses us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7)
“He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” (1 John 5:12)
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. Evangelist.
Let he who is without sin cast the first stone! Practice what you preach Revvy!
So a snake in one’s bed is NOT an emergency? Since when it is OK to just chill and call the Wildlife Division? Only in DA!
Agreed
It’s not poisonous, and no one is hurt. Of course that’s not an emergency.
After all that is said and done the country remain the same. No respect to human life. I live on UK and It is sad that people lives in DA is not priority in this country. There is a baby involved, 3 hours is a long time to wait for reducers. But we can talk and talk the same thing will happen maybe even worst next time. Dominicans I feel your pain.
thats why i always search my house when i enter.. i dont know what i looking for.. but i search all cupboards,, under beds. closet rest room.. you never know what lay await for you while you were goine.. if i leave my bedroom to go in my kitche,, when i come back i looking under my bed.. bad habit.. but im just fearful of these things..
Next time, tell them is a bag of weed you find under the bed, they’ll come.
LOLLLLLLL
Is it the police who must from remove a snake from a house???????? Where does that duty appear in their functions??? you guys must read before you all print and send and just type based on emotions.
It was not an emergency boy wtf? Stpz only in dominica in states a bruise is considered an emergency!
Cant believe what I read . Someone call 911 and you could not even assist even if it was not an emergency, A baby is involved and that was your answer, Since when forestry in Dominica on call for 24? Idiot . We should learn from that incident and define the work of 911 and how they can assist in a non emergency and who are the person to call base on 911 call reform the 911 call center train your officers .
This isa serious matter .Remember Dominica is heading for the next level.
THIS INCIDENT COULD HAPPEN TO ANYONE INCLUDING A OVER NIGHT VISITOR FROM A DEVELOP COUNTRY. what a scandal that would have been
I cannot believe what I am hearing. At 3am call Forestry. At least he could call the fire service to assist.
That is why the public has no respect for the police.
Had she said some people are carrying bags of what looked like marijuana or cocaine they would be there in a second.
Wicked
We lived in the bush in the country, the only house around for a few miles and we never had a snake enter our house. I am just curious where was this house and how did the snake enter the house with a small child and no one noticing. Thank God everyone involved was ok. It must have been a traumatic experience
Nature Island at its best. Next time call de snake man. De one wat hav de snake wrap eem an.
Don’t call de ploice; All dem no is de paycheck.
Malmakay turn into snakes at nights they attack only single women. Women be careful put ASAFETIDA etc at yr home, you all kw what I mean. The other day a man told me am stronger than what he believe, when asked why? he said, ” something hinder me, I try to enter yr home but there is a HINDRANCE, COME ON tell me what” I told him im not his friend.
That was scary. That snake is big.The lady could have fainted. It is very disappointing that 911 Dominica was unhelpful even dismissive of the lady.
I don\’t know for the rest of you, but a snake in my bed, to the point that I can feel it, is death for me; I don\’t believe that I would have the time to call any emergency number, I would be dead within that time.
I just hate the snake, like the poison that some of them are–regardless of how small or how big it is. I cannot even bear to watch them in a photo far more for a video
For an emergency service to refuse that call for help, showing up 3 hours later, is downright wicked and careless. This is not good; not good at all!
Hmmmmm this one is a tough one. And i still find that lady is brave to even make a phone call, somebody like me would have wake up the whole neighbor hood screaming my lungs out. I would have park up my jolly bundles and hit the road and never look back.
In Dominica is our emergency number 911 or 999?
she panicked and call 911. at least, one police officer could go and check the lady and the baby. not nothing they doingin the station.
in the states more busy than that and if you call to say your cat go up the tree and cant come down, they are coming. some lazy police we have
You don’t know anything about the US you look at tv and talk crap , what can the police do for a cat caught up in a big tree or a snake a lot of people actually scared of those things that’s for the animal welfare to deal with.
It is not the job of our police officers to be wildlife officers. Yes may one could have gone to check, but again that is not part of their job to get snakes out of people’s house.
#OneLoveDominicans!
Waited for 3 hours? That means that after the initial shock they were never in danger. Why did they not leave the house, did the snake lock the door?
you are sooo insensitive
“.. did the snake lock the door?” Haha, lol. This is not a laughing matter, but your comment is funny to me.
Two boa constructor lives 45 ft from my house, no rats and moses around. Good helpers!
ONE boa constrictor LIVES, but TWO boa constrictors LIVE.
mice not moses
I need to know what is an emergency. I think that Dominica 911 is only for if you see someone with drugs and maybe if someone crash. I doubt they are able to handle anything else. This is ridiculous; when 911 is called they should be able to put you on to the relevant authorities or come handle it them selves.
I called 911 once. No response at all!! I am apalled and ashamed by the standards in Da.
I think the police is scared of snake.
But the male police have snakes, no?
A good friend and my brother-nephew-son, Sam
says, only half-jokingly, “the three things Domincans are very afraid of are snakes, dogs and gay people.” LOL
If is me it DEA and matter done.But it was not me so it chappe.I have met them in my house and they were no more.
Meanwhile overseas police officers and firemen rescue cats from trees and dogs from hot vehicles. Smh they could have least gone to help the lady.
Overseas police also linger to get to a REAL emergency and let people burn or suffocate in their cars/houses too.
We have a lot of “snakes” here in D/A – I see them everyday.
your point is? who ever she called handled the situation wrong . if that is the response she got.
every body has different foabia.
Where you living, in de bush?
999
The snake was visiting it’s woman and child
Not an emergency really then tell me war is call forestry at 3am very ignorant and stupid advice to give
I bend over backward to support law enforcement whenever I can. But this is the kind nonsense that makes people lose respect for Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force.
Did the citizen tell you a tree fell or something? Since when Forestry Division on duty at night to rescue people. Is this a joke? You have a wild animal endangering human life. You are licensed to carry a lethal weapon. You are a professional. GO INVESTIGATE! Take control of the situation. Be a hero. Don’t just sit on your ___ and pass the buck. What the hell is this?! Police work is not just about persecuting citizens on demand. SERVE AND PROTECT!!! What about that you don’t understand?
Come on officers! Make me proud for a change.
Hello.I was forced to reply to this comment. I live in the united states.Had five big racoons right under my bedroom window. since I live on the second floor,they were pretty close I could touch them. Racoons carry rabies. I called 911 in the united states ,I was told it wasn’t emergency call animal control which I did. I was told that there was nothing they could do and that I had to set traps for the racoons and after catching the racoons I must call them to pick the traps up. This is not only in Dominica.
Where is in the United States do you live.
In Boston Animal Control respond in minut
respond in minutes even for dead animals.
If you set a trap and endanger a raccoon,
you would be facing jail time and a fine.
Please stay in the state that you are, because what you said is in believable?
you were told to call animal control ,,,,, you were given a workable option…. helllooo but not only that you were not inn immediate danger… an plz call forestryy?????? how about try and get the baby away from the snake or go to your neighbour for help or something thats workable…no to mention the state of shock….. do you really think her brains was functional.
@ smh, must have been a bad day for you because in the u.s they recuse all sorts of animals even from hot vehicles.. so dont try and make comparisons
I am afraid of snakes. However, do we call the police or pest control? Or 911 directs the calls to the emergency unit that deals with the problem. That is something that needs discussing with clear heads.
What is the nature of 911 calls? Somehow I think I need more facts before throwing blame around. Glad the woman and child were not harmed by the snake.
What you do not realize is that a racoon is a different animal to a snake. I can tell for a fact in Texas there is a species of snakes if you got bit by one, and did not receive treatment within five minuets, you are dead.
Raccoons may not be an emergence, because they do not attack people, they keep away from people, that is why they suggest you trap them, as a matter of fact, there are people who’s business is setting traps for such animals. Now if I was to call animal control and told them there is a dead bird in my yard, I might be advised not to touch it, or pick it up, but within an hour they will come equip to remove it from my premises.
It all depends on the potential the animal has to carry different diseases. In any event the operator who told the lady she had no emergency, is an idiot, because some so called pet lover who smuggles snakes from country to country may have brought a highly venomous reptile into the island as pet, and could have escaped from its owner…
but like you said call animal control who is on duty 24/7 in the states……. we don’t have such so we call what we have..duhhhhhhhhh
when de last time u hear a snake kill somebody in Dominica? its not a threat
But it bites. And there was a baby in the bed cunumunu. What if it had wrapped around the kid. Wear all u ignorance as a badge of honour around all u necks. With all u foolish comments!
bro u serious… let me educate you a bit … look at the pic do you see how the snake is around the man hands… well this is what the boas done.. we are not just talking about an adult we are talkinng about an baby too annd not to mention the woman was shocked as hell .. plus u have no idea what she is afraid of
“Not a threat?” That depends on the kind of snake it is.
A women from the U.K. is not likely to know what kind of snake it is and if it is deadly or not. The 911 operator probably would not know. Her duty is to assume it is dangerous and act upon that assumption. It should have been treated as an emergency until the authorities announced otherwise.
This kind of 911 service is a disgrace to the Commonwealth of Dominica. It certainly is not a news report that will promote tourism. It is not like you don’t already have enough against you.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. Evangelist.
What specie of snake is that?
BOA CONSTRICTOR. It will squeeze the life out of its victims/prey which are mostly animals.
Visitor calling 911 for a snake in Dominica !!!!
Reality check lady …….ooopppss !
1. u all need to forget the part about a visitor
2. u all need to analise the situation and realise it not just the lady but a baby involve
3- the person was in a state of shock
4. look at the time it happen
5. put your self in the person place
6and finally analiyse everything because when we are not in the position we can rant and talk alot of shit ignoring the reality . i mean people come on where are u all humain side .. this can shock anyone… so quit the negativity and realise .. that the situation could have been dealt with differently period
it would be interesting to see the type of house it is do snakes only enter houses that are flat on the ground?
Snake in the house, evicted for not paying Rent. Seriously! Enough to give one a Heart attack. We`re lucky we do not have too many poisonous snakes in the Nature Island. All well that Ends well.
Are you suggesting we have poisonous snakes in DA?
so how many poisonous snakes do we have in dominica ?
Look how idiotic Dominicans are, here it is noted that this person was in bed with a child, and this reptile invaded the residence finding its way into the bed.
That snake is known as the Newfoundland snake, their venom may not kill a human, nevertheless, if by any chance, that snake was hungry, it could have wrapped itself, around the child, or even the adult, and apply pressure, kill them and then try to sallow them.
And some idiot told the victim of the reptile that’s not an emergency? What kind of people are Dominicans?
Our people are very sick, and ignorant to the core, we have no shame, and proud of our stupidity!
You appear to be well informed about reptiles, but the species capable of swallowing a man or woman must be new to Dominica.
Winston, I know for a fact, that snake could not sallow a fully grown adult, however, that size could indeed sallow an infant, simply because we’ve never had such incident in the country of anyone been eaten by that species of snakes dose not make it impossible.
You see the jaws, and throat of snakes are all elastic tissue, they can stretch as wide when they swallow their prey. Here is an example, women gives birth everyday, to children of all different wright, some baby’s way up to 22 lbs, that’s the heaviest I know of: So the question is that possible I can explain, but I will get plenty of thumbs down; however, be informed whereas the Vagina is all elastic tissue, as well the anus of both male and female, such are possible.
The male penis is all muscle, and elastic tissue, that is why it is able to stretch! And that is taught in human biology, and physiology!
Mr. Telemacque, this not an anatomy and physiology class.
Keep it simple☺️
” some baby’s way up to 22 lbs, that’s”
That should read some baby’s weigh up to 22 lbs, when they are born that’s the heaviest I know about!
But allu in DA are led by a snake, no?
Merian, one of the reasons that Dominica is in such a backward state, is because of dumb people like! Information is essential, people learn from any source and developed their mind.
If what I was all about Skerrit, and your nasty corrupted officials in Dominica you might be singing another tune finding some fault, well your intelligence and mine are different, we are at a different level educationally, you are in no position to dictate what I should write you are not capable of putting words in my mouth!
If you wish to be dumb, remain dumb, who are you to decide what comment I should make?
Sallow means unhealthy in appearance––often yellow in color–
Not a Newfoundland snake , Newfoundland is way too cold for boa constrictors which is what this snake is . We don’t know the size of the child and that snake does not look soo large .. The snake rubbed on the woman’s body probably because it was cold and was seeking heat during a chilly evening .. No real danger here ..
I hope it was release in the forest. I would have fainted.
We do not catch snakes in Dominica, and release them in the bush, forest or anywhere. I thing like that whenever they are found, we kill them. When we find a cavalcade of snakes, we set the nest on fire.
That is traditional in Dominica. I hate snakes, when I was a kid, cross path with a snake, I would run like hell! To this very day I am still afraid of such creatures.
Nobody in Dominica could run faster than I could when I encounter a snake, when they shed, my father would take the skin and make belts out of them, and even the belts scared me.
This is what I does be afraid of when I go home. Snakes are my biggest fear. I think I would have died. Omg the size of those things.
Really officer??? Not an emergency??? Well in my case you would bloody well have to hurry with the ambulance, nurse and doctor or you will be responsible for my life. You showed d size of dat ting?? Not even if I had a gun I would have been able to stand to kill it. How far could I have run to?
I saw a very tiny snake back in 2002 up in Halstead, I ran to the car and could not talk. Speech was gone. You mad or what?? The officer was supposed to be the one getting forestry.
de country nice boy
Most 911 calls are recorded. This one should be reviewed.
(1) The 911 operator had no way of even knowing what kind of snake it was. This and the fact that there was a baby in that bed did indeed make it an emergency. The snake could have killed the baby before the woman even woke up. I would expect the woman to be terribly traumatized, perhaps unable to call the Forestry Division. It is not a phone number she would likely have handy.
(2) The 911 operator should have immediately contacted the Forestry Division and sent them or the police. I know the police do handle such calls.
(3) Imagine waiting three hours for the responders to arrive
The poor woman must have suffered incredible trauma in that time. I think I would be getting legal advice.
Sincerely, Rev. Dr. Donald Hill. Evangelist.
Mr. Hill, it will all boil down to where that operator was simply enjoying her/his bit of fifteen minuets of fame, its a crave for importance and power, which cause some of our people to act so stupid, some people are horrified by such creatures, that woman could have had a heart attack or a stroke triggered by fear.
That operator was perhaps only interested in their Dominica accent, especially if they detect they were not talking to a Dominican. In our country when people encounter such cold blooded reptiles, they quickly reach out for a Cutlass (Machete) and chop the head of the snake off!
A snake can be very dangerous, I have seen where a wounded snake in a house literally wreck wreaked the place as if a small bomb exploded in the house. That idiot who told the victim that was not an emergency, in America would be fired! But you never know because they say words in the English language means something different in Dominica.
So the word emergency in Dominica could mean…
recorded by who ? oookkk !
Man, you think this is Canada!
You know maybe you should explain to him our system, and how it works, tell him anything goes in Dominica, even if the call was recorded, and someone violated the woman’s right, where it pertains to prosecution, all the operator would do is dress up in Red, and the case would go cold, become dormant!
In any event , fire and police officers are not supposed to man 911 system.
Only in Dominica; there is supposed to be a full time crew working within that system. My next door neighbor is a 911 dispatcher, she works on a shift system. Police are supposed to do police work, so too are firemen, I doubt answering 911 calls are part of a police duty.
So 911 d operator dat ans doe realize is ah foreigner cuz we can kill our own snakes here smh. D least d operator cud do was gv ah better answer n try some wey 2 try help.
Who goin ans forestry fone 3am huh.
I doe want to laugh cause this is strange but… you sure is 911 she dial?
That’s not impossible, because we do have a 911 service in Dominica.
Oh we do! Didn’t know. Was always taught 999.. I guess I more backwards than the snake!
Seriously wow a snake hmmm..
Snakes aren’t stupid. That’s a friendly snake boy.
When a snake lies next to people thats means its sizing you up to eat you. Known fact
Woye! Dominica snake coming rude man..
*shivers*
I tell you Psych Unit would have picked me up.
What a rude awakening, welcome to Dominica , however the police should have gone over and help, instead of them telling the lady she need to call department of forestry at 2:30 A.M., they the police is to protect and serve the public cus, we pay there salaries , there was a one year old baby in the house the snake was a boa-constrictor meaning it can wrap it self around that kid and choke her, this has happened in the states , the police miss a great opportunity to show off to this young lady who is here visiting from the U.K of what community policing is all about , that’s why we are the lathing stock of the world ,I guess he was to busy playing video game on his lap top , is it the training that they get at mourn-Bruce?, what happened to common sense?. is his supervisors gonna address the issue? probably not, that’s why we are called Dum-inicans.I am glade all turn out okay .close your doors at nite please.
Another reason might be because we can’t spell.
The level of some written english on here is terrible and I’m not talking about creole colloquialisms. What’s going on?
Please tell me you don’t have spellcheck on your computers. However, that is no excuse as I went to school in Dominica until the early ’70’s and people could write better back then than I see on here now. Have our standards of literacy declined on the island? Don’t they have spelling competitions anymore like back then? We used to take pride in such things as part of a child’s educational development. How times change.
Call the grammar police to sort this out……..quick, please
Here is a suggestion for opportunities. Dominica I imagine has a large population of boa constrictors (tet chien). My guess is the forestry and wildlife division collects data on funa population. What if we allow hunting of these snakes with license eg 2000 tags given to license hunters to cath these snakes and thier skin used to make bags, shoes, purses etc. It couId be a niche market and a responsible/renewable way of controlling the pollution at the same time creating opportunities. The flesh can be cold stored, packaged and used as fishing bait. It is no different from using skin of cattle to make leather for those animal rights activist out there and i think a good way to responsible use our resources. What do you think?
Good idea, Dominica is overrun with snakes.
@Shaka Zulu – Totally agree with you. I say hunt them.
Aye DNO, the last statement of the article reads “………they were eventually rescued from the house and the snake was taken away”.
DNO, what I reading dere nuh? The snake was “taken away” (full stop)? Huh? What about “taken away and KILLED”. So DNO, you mean to say that snake may still be alive where dem take it? Where dem take that bold-faced snake and bring it?
Well look people not going to sleep tonight……..
. All you, sleep with all you cutlass close by tonight or take turns doing a night watch because we ain’t know where they take dat bold-faced snake and bring it.
DNO, for the comfort of the nation, could your investigative reporters find out if the snake was killed and hence no longer a ‘threat’ the households of the nation?
P.S. – Tell DOMLEC, do not take lights for the next few nights because a bold-faced, house-entering snake might well be on the loose.
I think that a very good idea
A very good idea, Mr Zulu,
Btw, you can buy some fantastic snakeskin wallets and belts in some of Guyana’s markets and at the airport, usually a huckster outside. We do possess a lot of common sense ideas amongst the population but these need to be developed into tangible realities to give the youth some future on the island. This would have to controlled and seasonal for it to be sustainable as you have pointed out.
What I really like about your idea is that it requires no major investment as we have the main resources here to be harvested. All we need is a supplier of quality buckles (not cheap and tacky imports). I am sure that we have the talent and skill to make them here too.
You even thought about the flesh, ugh, but top marks nonetheless! Who knows, smoked, cured and vacuum packed Caribbean snakemeat could be quite a delicacy in other parts of the world.
Now imagine going into a high class store – Belts, purses, wallets, watch straps, phone cases – Made in…
Them police doesn’t watch tv nuh cops and fire services are seen rescuing snakes ,dog, cat, and even alligator wii. All you already not solving crime in Dominica well at least do some humanitarian work nuh!.
911 well rude. lol Don’t tell the lady it’s not an emergency! Because she may not know that the snake is not poisonous. Just tell her we will direct you to the appropriate division! That’s how people does give us bad review after they vacation in Dominica. gosh
Oh my goodness i would have passed out over and over again. Am happy it had a good ending afterall.
Is that the pic of the snake tha was in the home?
These incompetent police only see drug interdiction as their main area of activity.Why isn’t there any resolution to the break in at the registry.People call the police from lice crime scenes,when the perpetrators could be apprehended,and the cop on duty says call back.It makes you wonder But with an incompetent chief,Carbon,wgat else do you expect The minister of national security said he does not have confidence in the man.Fish rots from the head down
I had that experience in Fort Lauderdale, FL. I woke up and saw a snake on my bedroom floor. I was terrified to say the least. I dialed 911 and was told that they do not come out for situations like this, I was given the number for animal control only to hear a recording asking me to leave my information and someone will contact me within 48 hours. My employer at the time came, paid someone from the street to get rid of it. I can certainly understand how you felt.
You JUST made up this likkle story DC.
Call Forestry Division at 3:00 a.m.? Ok!
Forestry at 3AM????????????? THIS COUNTRY MUST BE A JOKE
Did I read this: “Frightened, the visitor dialed 911 but she said she was told the matter was not an emergency and she should contact the Forestry Division instead.”
Wonder if the 911 person even gave the lady the number to Forestry.
Yeah, welcome to DA country ma’am; where nothing meets the test of an emergency; where there is no urgency to life; and where everybody shrugs their shoulders to say “So what? We like it so. Dominica nice boy.”