Dog walker in England encounters 8-foot boa constrictor

March 30 (UPI) -- A man in England contacted the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals after he found a massive snake while walking his dog.

The man got a "bit of a surprise" when he came across the 8-foot boa constrictor in a field near a housing complex in Banbury.

"It's hard to know for sure how this snake came to be in the field but I think the caller got a bit of a surprise," RSPCA Deputy Chief Inspector Melanie Fisher said. "It's not everyday you stumble upon an eight foot snake while out walking the dog."

Fisher said the snake was not microchipped so the animal charity is unable to determine where it came form, but she believes it may have been abandoned or escaped from a vivarium.

"Many people do not realize what they are taking on when they buy these pets so we are urging prospective buyers to do their research before getting one," she added.

The snake was discovered on March 18, but remains in good condition under RSPCA care despite having spent some time out in the cold.

"Snakes aren't able to produce their own body heat and so being outdoors in the UK, especially during cold weather, can be really serious as their body can't function normally outside the correct temperature range," Fisher said.