>> “She needed to get a knife and stab the snake behind the head, severing the spine.” <<
Yeah, that’s what I would have done. I imagine she was afraid, and if the python was 5 meters instead of 3, I might be too (I’m be nervous, anyway). Having partially swallowed the dog, it was vulnerable, though. One blow as you say with a knife might kill it. If a knife wasn’t quickly available, I might try a stick, gouging it in the eyes, and hitting its head or neck (if that could be done without hitting the dog’s head). What if that had been a young child? I wonder if she would have stood there then too.
Anyone know if a snake with its mouth fully open and swallowing can quickly release its prey to defend itself? Of course, even if its head is stuck on the prey, you’d have to watch out for it if it tried to switch its coils from the prey to you, but I think with a knife, it could be killed.
“I’m be nervous, anyway” should be “I’d be nervous, anyway”. Actually, more than nervous, I’d probably be afraid of a 3-meter one, even if it was occupied swallowing my dog. If I could get ahold of a knife or substantial stick, though, I’d do something.
If the snake was “swallowing” the dog the dog was dead.
Actually snakes don’t swallow they crawl over their prey.
I don not believe a python can quickly release its prey quickly in order to strike.
A snake unlatched its jaw to swallow prey.
To strike it would have to release the prey animal and rematch the jaw.
Also a snakes teeth are hook shaped pointed to the back of the head to make it more difficult for prey to escape and to move the prey toward the throat. This would also make it difficult to release the dog.