SACRAMENTO, Sept. 3 (UPI) -- A pet python was recovering from surgery for wounds inflicted by the mouth of a Sacramento, Calif., man, a city official said.
David Elmer Senk, 54, was being held in the Sacramento County Jail on charges of unlawfully maiming/mutilating the snake, The Sacramento Bee reported Saturday.
Police received a report that a man had been assaulted and was unresponsive at 6:30 p.m. Thursday. When they arrived on they scene, officers found Senk, the Bee said.
Officers were talking to Senk when an unidentified person told police Senk had bitten the python, the newspaper said.
Senk was then arrested and the injured snake was taken by animal control officials, the newspaper said.
"She's doing well," said Gina E. Knepp, animal care services manager for the city of Sacramento Friday. "We did surgery on her last night and I think we saved her life."
Knepp said the snake lost a couple of ribs.
