If I knew there was that large of a snake near my home, not only would I have removed my pets from the area, or at least caged them or something to keep them protected, I would have kept my children safe as well. Not to mention, calling someone to get the snake. I just can't imagine that I would have allowed my children or pets to be around an animal I knew was in the vicinity. And, I'm not saying that I think that snake would have killed the children, but it certainly isn't something I'd knowingly risk. The entire situation sounds cracked to me. :/ Poor children, having to see that happen. And, someone asked or stated why the children had to be mentioned in the story at all, and my assumption is that it makes the story more dramatic. More tragic, because that would be horrifying for anyone to actually witness, especially small children, and tragedy sells stories.