It was blazing hot outside when I noticed a large black snake slithering toward me. But instead of acting aggressive, it just stopped and lifted its head… almost like it was begging. Something in me said to help, so I filled a glass with water and slowly set it down. To my shock, the snake drank from the glass.
I thought it was a rare, peaceful moment-until Animal Control arrived. They took one look and said, “You got lucky.”
…That’s when I realized—I hadn’t just helped a random snake. The man from Animal Control took a step back, eyes wide.
“You got lucky,” he said, shaking his head. “That’s a cobra. to be exact. Highly venomous. One bite and you’d be unconscious in minutes—dead if not treated quickly.”
My stomach dropped. “But… it didn’t attack. It just drank the water.”
“Still,” he replied, “that kind of behavior is extremely unusual. Most people wouldn’t have walked away unharmed. Next time, don’t assume a calm snake means a safe one.”
He reached into his kit and handed me a pamphlet.
“If you do get bitten,” he said firmly, “remember these steps:
1. Stay calm – panic speeds up your heart rate, spreading venom faster.
2. Keep the affected limb still and lower than your heart.
3. Don’t try to suck out the venom or cut the bite.
4. Call emergency services immediately – antivenom is the only effective treatment.
5. Take a photo of the snake if possible, but don’t go after it.”
He paused, giving me a hard look. “You showed kindness, and maybe that saved you. But snakes don’t care about kindness—they act on instinct. Next time, let the professionals handle it.”
I looked down at the now-empty glass and shivered. What had felt like a peaceful moment was really a brush with death.
But one thing was for sure—I’d never see snakes, or kindness, quite the same way again.