Pembroke Pines homeowner startled by 8-foot python inside garage

Joseph Liscinsky bitten on hand by snake

PEMBROKE PINES, Fla. – A Pembroke Pines homeowner got a slithery surprise Friday morning, and some quick thinking might have saved his dog's life.

A photo taken by Joseph Liscinsky shows an 8-foot python just before wildlife officials took it away.

"I've been here 22 years. I have seen gators, Nile monitors, geckos -- a lot of wildlife," Liscinsky said.

But for the first time in nearly two decades, Liscinsky came across a large snake inside his garage.

"I was startled. My heart went, 'Boom,'" Liscinsky said.

Liscinsky  said the python was in striking distance from his small dog when he found it about midnight.  

"I'm glad I came out with him," Liscinsky said.

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Liscinsky believes that his unwelcome guest was hiding out in a nearby canal and made its way into his garage overnight.

He said he immediately called his neighbor, who brought him a broom and a pillowcase.

"I got this. Held its head down and picked it up, and then it did an automatic wrap around," Liscinsky said.

Liscinsky managed to get the snake inside the pillow case, where he kept it until wildlife officials picked it up

He said he is thankful that his dog wasn't hurt.

"That thing would've wrapped this dog up, broke its bones and ate him," Liscinsky said.

But Liscinsky  is still feeling the pain himself after the nonvenomous snake got a hold of his hand with its razor-sharp teeth.

The incident comes at the same time that the South Florida Water Management District is paying top python hunters to capture and kill the snakes that are threatening the Everglades.