Mom is terrified of snakes. Don't try telling her garter snakes are harmless, good for the environment, it doesn't help. She will tell you breathing is healthy and she finds it hard to do when she she's a snake. She can manage her fears when they are behind glass or caged in some way but when they are free or someone is holding one all bets are off.
Thankfully, for Mom garter snakes don't like being herded and will generally flee when a Sheltie starts to investigate. This one dived for cover when I, Katy, went to rescue Mom. Of course now Mom is once again paranoid about snakes living under the porch, but at least it isn't sun bathing by the bottom of the stairs. I can only do so much. Not that this makes the Mom feel better, but this is one of the bigger snakes we've seen in the last few years.
