LEXINGTON, Ky. — What is nearly seven feet long, has no arms or legs and has a new home? William, the red-tailed boa constrictor. 

William was captured on Williamsburg Court in Lexington on July 6 after a report of it crossing the road was made to a police officer, according to an article in the Lexington Herald-Leader.  

Lexington-Fayette Animal Care and Control took William to the Lexington Humane Society. After an examination and failed attempts to find his owner, William was put up for adoption. 

Katy Stoess, of the Lexington Humane Society, said putting a large reptile up for adoption is different from a typical dog, cat or even farm animal.

“He can’t just go anywhere,” she said. “Whoever adopts him has to have some experience with a snake, and we have had a lot of requests about him.”

Adoption specialists at the humane society began working out a schedule to bring people in for what Stoess said was a meet-and-greet with William.

“Our adoption specialists go over all of what is needed to care for a snake during the initial conversation,” Stoess said. “Hopefully, people are honest and forthcoming with their experiences and after that we will get them in to meet him.”

Someone passed the tests because on Thursday, July 14, William was adopted and taken to his new home. 

“If you're a snake person, he's a beautiful snake,” Stoess said. “I've tried to stay on the other end of the building, but he's pretty docile. He’s big and heavy — it took two people to hold him up to the camera for his picture, but he was super friendly and cuddly. Whoever had him before did a good job of socializing him.” 

Stoess said William is the first red-tail boa brought to the humane society since she has worked there, but records show he is the sixth on record. 

“We've had quite a few red-tail boas,” Stoess said. “One we adopted out, not including William, and the rest went to a wildlife sanctuary.”