I am in no way going to criticize you for what you did. I am also not saying that I agree with the way you handled the live rat pup. Just be prepared in the future that if your snake only chooses to eat live that you need to be prepared to keep a live animal. I'm sure your snake would have eventually eaten the rat pup. I always have an enclosure and extra food on hand just in case my snake decides to skip a feeding, which he frequently does. I just keep the rat or mouse alive for his next feeding. All animals deserve to be treated with repsect, even the live feeders that our snakes eat.