Gloucester's Maureen Magee knows who to call when there's a snake in your house

At her Copeland home on Thursday, August 27, Maureen's two dogs starting making noise like someone coming. Not expecting any visitors, Maureen attempted to ignore them. But after their persistence, she decided to step outside to have look.

She found her terrier, Geebung harassing a red belly black snake that had slithered underneath the front door frame.

"He was attacking it. He bit it," Maureen said. "But I can't have him bitten again. He's already been bitten a couple of times."

She went to lock him in the car and that's when the snake make its way into her house. She went in to have a look for it but after moving all the lounges she simply couldn't find it.

"I'm 76 and my vision isn't that good," she explained.

Enlisting the help of Geebung, she hooked him up to his lead and started searching again. He made his way to the black titles underneath the fireplace where Maureen could sell urine and there was the black snake curled up amid some wood.

"If I was younger I would have gotten it out with a broom. I've had lots of experience with snakes," she said. "But my reflexes aren't good. I told myself I'd be bloody stupid to try. It's a terrible thing when you get old."

She started calling wildlife services and government departments to try to find a snake catcher. After a frustrating five phone calls, she was told to call the police assist line.

"I thought it'd be a cheat to call the police but they came right away and helped."

Two Gloucester police officers made their way to Copeland and after a little advice from Maureen, they used her broom to encourage the snake to go back outside.

After telling her friend about her ordeal, it was suggested that she share her experience with the newspaper, so other people in the area know what to do if they find themselves with a snake slithering into their homes.

The Police Assistance Line is 131 444.