Melissa Moorhouse's Boa Constrictor Snake Found On Boston Subway

BOSTON — Transit officials say a 3-foot-long boa constrictor that slithered away from its owner on a Boston subway car a month ago has been found in an adjoining car.

A commuter spotted Penelope the snake on Thursday and alerted a train attendant at a Red Line station. Transit authority officials took the train out of service to search it. Train attendant Sharon Lynch – a snake owner herself – caught it.

Penelope's owner, 30-year-old Melissa Moorhouse of Allston, had traveled around with the snake around her neck and lost it between two stations Jan. 6. She's thrilled to have her pet back and says she'll pay more attention the next time she takes Penelope out in public.

Comments

[linton]

06:24 PM on 02/07/2011

Why penelope for a pet?

[No stinking fans]

01:52 PM on 02/07/2011

Three foot longs.

[Max Shaw]

01:19 PM on 02/07/2011

How do you 'not notice' that a snake is no longer around your neck? Its not a scarf...it moves!

[pahammer]

01:17 PM on 02/07/2011

does the snake need its own ticket?

[bizchickblogs]

10:44 PM on 02/06/2011

Guess I didn't realize you could take snakes on a subway.

[LMPE]

06:47 PM on 02/06/2011

Someone already riffed on "Snakes on a Plane".

[LindyK]

04:04 PM on 02/06/2011

She travels the subway with her boa constictor around her neck? No wonder Penelope wanted to escape. Next time, squeeze.

[JackHoffman]

03:02 PM on 02/06/2011

One can 'wear' a snake in Boston?

[Madame De Stael]

02:35 PM on 02/08/2011

only after memorial day and before labor day.

[BN2112]

02:26 PM on 02/06/2011

Here's hoping it ate a rat or two at least.

[Debra Van De Rostyne]

01:22 PM on 02/06/2011

That's the snake that was in the movie "A Series of Unfortunate Events"!

[sadwolf1]

01:15 PM on 02/06/2011

Sounds like she lost her mind awhile back. Maybe she could go find it so she doesn't leave her snake behind next time.

[johnjohn1234]

12:32 PM on 02/06/2011

Inevitable they will make a movie of this--"Snakes on a Train."

[jl4141]

12:06 PM on 02/06/2011

I'm tired of these m____ snakes on this m____ train!

[LMPE]

06:47 PM on 02/06/2011

Damn! I was gonna say that!

[RicanNewYorker]

10:46 AM on 02/06/2011

How the hell does one loose a snake?

[Adam Luebke]

01:15 PM on 02/06/2011

That's the question I had. A 3 foot Boa that travels around her neck. She must have noticed it leaving.

[bizchickblogs]

10:48 PM on 02/06/2011

Seriously. How could she have possibly gone two stops and not noticed anything?

On a different note, has the snake been in the car for a month? The story says the owner lost it on January 6.

[ResistanceisFutile]

10:40 AM on 02/06/2011

People need to leave their pets at home. That is the safest place for them.

Why people take their pets shopping is beyond me.

Fence in your yard and hire a pet sitter when you go on vacation.

[MiBFTo]

11:03 AM on 02/06/2011

How you keep your pets is not how everyone keeps their pets. Just like how one person raises their kids isn't how everyone does, or should. No one way is right or wrong for all people.

[throwcautiontothewind]

11:35 AM on 02/06/2011

And what about the person who brings their Yorkie onto the subway, and the snake thinks "dinner?" I'm a huge animal lover, but animals who can be a danger to other pets or people need to be kept home.

[ResistanceisFutile]

12:18 PM on 02/07/2011

Safety of a Pet or Child is the primary issue.