Love is not something that can be measured.
That said, even if you think that a snake's body (or any body) is just a biological machine and is incapable of love, I don't see what's wrong with people perceiving love from a pet, even if it's "anthropomorphizing." Trying to convince people there is no affection there when they perceive it all the time seems pointlessly cruel to me.
Why try to make less love in the world?