Python eats small dog in its NSW kennel

A NSW woman has discovered her pet dog was eaten by a python while it was chained up in its kennel this morning.

The owner called wildlife organisation WIRES after she discovered a large carpet python in her Chihuahua-Maltese's kennel, with a large bulge in its body and a chain hanging out of its mouth.

Snakes are not uncommon in the town of Caniaba outside of Lismore, but WIRES volunteer Sue Ulyatt said it was only the second time in a decade a dog had been eaten in the Northern Rivers region.

"The lady was very sensible and realised that the python would strictly have looked at the dog as a food source and she called WIRES for help because the dog was now, you know, attached to the chain," Ms Ulyatt told the Daily Mercury.

The snake was taken to Currumbin Wildlife Hospital and will be monitored overnight in the hopes it regurgitates the chain.

If that doesn't happen, the serpent will undergo surgery and cared for before being released back into the wild.

The dog had been chained up so it would not attack local wildlife itself.

WIRES estimated the snake was more than 50 years old.