According to Mr. Bacon. people keep snakes because

W: Mr. Bacon, what is your job exactly?
B: I’m a vet, looking after sheep, horses, dogs, cats. We even have lions and tigers at the zoo.
W: What sort of pets do people bring to your clinic?
B: Mostly dogs and cats but then we have snakes and parrots and all other animals people keep as pets.
W: Snakes? Why do you think people keep snakes?
B: I quite like snakes, but I wouldn’t want one as a pet. Um...some people are very keen on them.
W: Maybe they keep snakes to frighten others. All right, do you think people spend more money on their animals than their children?
B: It depends on the people. Some are very good with their animals, some treat them far better than they would their kids, and unfortunately some are cruel with the animals.
W: What experience have you had of people who treat their animals too well?
B: Lots of animals come here with lipstick marks on the head. We regard that as a specific sort of condition here.
W: Are animals good for people’s health?
B: Well, they seem to help old people. These people see one person every two days, but their animal is with them all day, and it’s a companion.
W: Above all, why are you interested in your job?
B: Maybe the animals sometimes attack me and there is much paper work. The thing I like best is to deliver new animals. It always amazes me one moment you have one mother and the next moment you can have a pile of animals.