Snakie Luv

These are my first hognose snakes. I got Andrea (left) when I was in fourth grade 14 years ago. I ran around the house kissing her and calling her "Itty Bitty"-- the nickname "Itty" stuck.

"Ditty" (right) came a year later after I liked having Itty so much. We almost lost him a couple of times because he burrowed to the bottom of a flower pot in his cage. We were just about to throw everything out thinking he had escaped, when the plant started hissing at us. He's been quite the hisser ever since.

I had them out because Itty was undergoing surgery the next day and I wanted some photos as it may have been the last chance I got. After the surgery, the mass could not be removed and it was diagnosed as cancer--she does not have much longer to live.

If there was ever a better way for these two old friends to say good bye and good luck to each other, this would have to be it. It makes tears come to my eyes just to look at it.

A larger version of this image can be viewed at:
http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/44562577/?qo=12&q=by%3Asnakeskii&qh=sort%3Atime+-in%3Ascraps