Lostlantern can you please provide a link to where the story was posted?
I'd like to check it out. The snake looks much like a carpet python but the fence shown is not electric. Carpet pythons are rated harmless / non venemous but can bite (especially when handled by people with stinging soap or perfume reside on their hands). They are very common, grow up to 4 metres long and can swallow things up to the size of a toddler.
A comparison:
Common Carpet/Diamond Python:
The 'sheep eater' :