DUNWOODY, Ga. — Some metro Atlanta veterinarians are warning pet owners to watch out for snakes.”When we start to go back into the winter months, snakes are trying to absorb as much heat as they can. So this is a time when they are going to be out in the open. As a result they might bite more dogs at this point in time,” said Shauna Nicholas, a veterinarian.At the Brook Run dog park in Dunwoody, signs have been posted warning dog owners about the danger of snake bites.”I saw a copperhead right along the main path here,” said pet owner Courtney McNealy. “It was really hard to see because of the coloring and it was just curled up. The dogs were really interested in it so I had to corral the dogs in one area.”The Georgia Poison Center said so far this year, it has received 236 calls related to copperhead bites. In 2008 the number was 172.”Just this summer alone we’ve had just under 100. I have handled four or five myself and I am not even on the emergency team,” said Shauna Nicholas.Experts said if your pet is bitten, get to a vet as soon as possible.”The snake bite itself is going to cause a lot of swelling, so if the dog’s face has a lot of swelling, it could effect their breathing,” said Jennifer Pittman, a veterinarian.