An RSPCA inspector turned Indiana Jones for a call-out to a home in Richmond when a family reported spotting a cobra on the loose.
But, on closer inspection, the potentially dangerous and unpredictable animal turned out to be a plastic toy.
The family had spotted the snake in their front garden, and rushed indoors to safety, calling the RSPCA immediately for help.
Inspector Dale Grant said: “When I arrived at the property I had my snake kit at the ready.
“As the family hadn’t been able to officially identify the snake it’s really important to approach these situations to confine the animal as safely as possible, particularly if it’s suspected that the snake may be venomous.
“However, it didn’t take me too long to realise that this snake was the plastic kind, but it’s a fairly realistic toy.
“It’s been made to look like a cobra that is rearing his head in the typical hooded display, so it could look pretty life-like from a distance.”
The not-so-snaky incident, on November 15 2017, ended-up being part of the RSPCA’s “a-moo-sing” round-up of 2017 to cheer people up on Blue Monday (January 15).
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