You could probably accomplish the same thing if you just use a regular index card with the recent date and snake information in bold print. Or you could ask them to write YOUR name on the card or anything else. If they cannot get to a newspaper (it's personally a PITA to get a paper) then they can at least make a card or piece of paper up to prove that they have the animal. What are the chances of someone finding a photo of the exact looking snake on a card with today's date and your name or something similar on it? That would actually be slightly harder to find than a snake that looks the same on a newspaper with a recent date.