Diamond Python (& scared Cat)

This is Lefty, a diamond python we had in care for almost 12 months. (In the first pic we had him out for a walk - or slither - and he was enjoying terrorising our cat, Scribbles). When Lefty came to us he was severely emaciated, covered in ticks (including one in his left eye socket) and so weak he could hardly move. He was found on a walking track in Galston Gorge. The guy that found him rang WIRES, so Nath went and picked Lefty up, and the guy said, "If he doesn't make it, can I have the body so I can use the skin to make a handle for my golf club?" What the...?!?!? Sadly for the caller, Lefty had fighting spirit. Honestly, we didn't think he had a chance... but with some initial vet care and then some serious TLC from us over many months, we nursed him back to health. What a snake. I grew incredibly fond of him. Until I'd met Lefty, I would never have described a snake as 'sweet-natured'... but Lefty was. Children could handle him with no worries at all, and he had a starring role at my 30th birthday party. At one point he caught snake mites and I had to immerse him in water... he didn't like it, but I asked him nicely to dunk his head under the water for a few seconds to help drown all the mites and HE DID. (What the...!!!) I wanted to carry him down the aisle at our wedding, but I thought that was taking things a bit too far.... ; ) At the point the pics in this spotting were taken, he was still skinny but had regained some strength and vitality. Pic 3 shows his missing eye where the tick was removed, while Pic 4 shows his "good side". I cried the day we released him, in early spring 2010. I hope he went on to live a good life.