A snake has been found in the bread aisle of a supermarket, as an animal educational organisation has issued a warning about a surge in animal abandonment.
Pet Encounter in Workington, Cumbria, said that they found a baby corn snake in a Heron Foods store in Maryport last month before it was taken to a veterinary practice for a check-up.
While it is not clear if the snake, which has been nicknamed Crumbs, had been abandoned or escaped, Pet Encounter believes that the cost of living crisis has contributed to a rise in pet snakes being handed over to them.
The group has rescued 21 snakes so far this year, up from a total of 14 in 2025.
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Ben Nicholson, from the organisation, said: “There’s the equipment, heat mats, heat bulbs; they all have a cost and we’re in a cost of living crisis.
“People are looking to cut down on their energy use, and these animals can be a significant factor.”
He added that Pet Encounter never intended to become an animal rescue, but they will likely need to adapt their business model to allow for the increasing number of abandoned or surrendered pets.
He told the BBC: “We started Pet Encounter for education purposes, but we’re now looking at changing our business model and going down the route of being a charity so we can get some help with funding.
“We can’t say no to these animals.”
Mr Nicholson said that a lack of education around exotic animals and trends has also contributed to more abandonments.
He continued: “We find a lot of them coming through crazes.
“With Harry Potter season about to launch again, we’re expecting an influx of owls, so we’re preparing aviaries for that.”
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