I am NOT even going to read that....that is just horrible!! That family is definitely in our thoughts and prayers!!!
We, too, have a lot of rattlesnakes, copperheads, owls, hawks, bobcats, mountain cats, bears, coyotes, etc.. around here...my little ones are NEVER out by themselves...NO WAY!!! There is just too much that could happen!!!
We had a huge copperhead by our front porch this summer and our three big dogs had it cornered, they do not allow anything in our yard, so they were not happy to have this big snake so close to the house! --course they are the same way with moles, squirrels, etc. --even my pretty birds!!! But they are doing what they think is right...not allowing anything close to the house! Love those big babies!!!