Jessica Welch, a Western Michigan University student, was reunited with her emotional support python, Pina, after a car accident on Michigan's I-94. Welch was driving in snowy conditions when her car crashed, totaling the vehicle and breaking the snake's tank. FOX 2 reported that Welch, who relies on Pina to help with her anxiety, was initially devastated, thinking she had lost the snake. "The weight of it sort of reminded me of almost like a hug or weighted blanket and that's where her being my emotional support animal comes in because I struggle with anxiety," she said.
In Michigan's cold weather, the search for a missing python named Pina seemed hopeless until Carli Kearns and Will Shaw of Manchester Towing found it. Despite her fear of snakes, Kearns spotted Pina hiding in the spare tire compartment, saying, "I was about to give up, but then I saw the spare tire thing, started looking with my flashlight, and then I saw the snake, and I took off running," as stated by FOX 2.
Welch said, "I started poking around in like inside her mouth to see if that would get a reaction out of her and that's when she drew her head back a little bit." Pina was taken to the vet, who confirmed she was alive and gave her treatment. Though still a bit slow, Pina is recovering at home, according to ClickOnDetroit and MLive.
