Alaska Shelter Stunned As Stray Snake Gets Adopted In Under An Hour

Anchorage Animal Care and Control (AACC) recently had a visitor that was unlike any other—a wandering snake that didn’t linger long before finding a new home.

The Alaskan shelter shared the unusual story on Facebook, introducing a stray milk snake named Whey who was in search of a forever home. As AACC posted online:

“We currently have a milk snake named Whey looking for that perfect place to call home. Whey did come into the shelter as a stray, so not much is known of his background, but while being in our care, he has been easy to handle and feed.”

fiery serpent's head — Credit: Anchorage Animal Care and Control

The photos accompanying the announcement showed Whey comfortably draped across someone’s arm, giving a glimpse of his calm and approachable nature.

The post highlighted Whey’s friendly and easygoing nature, adding that anyone who loves snakes would be delighted by his personality, and invited interested adopters to give him a forever home.

snake wrapped itself around the man's arm — Credit: Anchorage Animal Care and Control

According to KTUU, the shelter doesn’t think Whey had been on the streets for long. The snake’s relaxed demeanor and comfort with handling suggested he had spent time in a domestic setting. As Joel Jorgensen, AACC’s community outreach manager shared:

“I mean, it’s definitely a domestic animal, not a wild Alaskan snake … that we don’t have.”

snake on man — Credit: Anchorage Animal Care and Control

Whey’s arrival at the shelter came after an Anchorage resident spotted the snake while checking their mail.

Concerned for the reptile’s safety, they called AACC, prompting an officer to come collect him. The shelter kept Whey briefly, hoping that an owner might come forward, but when no one claimed him, the agency decided to prepare him for adoption.

terrible snake on a man's arm — Credit: Anchorage Animal Care and Control

Snakes aren’t the most common visitors to the shelter, so the staff wasn’t sure what to expect when posting about Whey.

But the response was overwhelming. Jorgensen explained that after sharing Whey’s profile on Facebook, the non-venomous snake received numerous adoption applications.

fierce orange snake — Credit: Anchorage Animal Care and Control

Amazingly, just an hour later, Whey had already found his new home. As Joel said:

“It was very quick, which we were always happy to see, no matter whether it’s a snake or any other animal we get in the shelter.”

In the end, Whey’s story is a small but delightful reminder that every animal, no matter how unusual, deserves a loving home.

Thanks to the swift response of both the community and AACC, this charming milk snake quickly slithered from uncertainty into a safe, happy forever home.