A dog is the most loyal companion a person can have. They are always willing to take the initiative and protect you, even if it puts them in danger.
That’s what one brave dog recently demonstrated when he bravely defended his young owner from a rattlesnake, even though it meant being bitten himself.
Marley, a Labrador retriever, is owned by Alex Loredo, an 18-year-old from Harbison Canyon, California. He got the dog to help him lose weight after experiencing health issues, and they’ve been best friends ever since.
He was especially lucky to have Marley by his side last month, when the teen was in serious danger.
According to KGTV, he heard a “huge rattling” outside his house… He was suddenly confronted by a rattlesnake about a foot and a half long.
Alex claims he “freaked out” and was bracing himself for a serious snake bite… until Marley arrived.
“But before I could even turn, Marley had run between us,” Alex recalled. “Marley basically pushed me out of the way. He barked a few times at the snake.”
Unfortunately, Marley’s audacity put him in danger, as the snake bit him twice, once on the tongue and once on the neck. Alex quickly reciprocated by racing to save his dog from the venom.
“There was blood everywhere,” Alex recalled, “and Marley just slumped to the ground in agony. I went into a panic and drove him five kilometers to the nearest veterinarian.”
“I was terrified and tried to remain calm and quick-thinking because time was not on our side.”
Marley was taken to a 25-mile-away veterinary hospital and given two venom shots. He had to be hospitalized for several days, and veterinarians were worried that they would have to amputate his tongue.
Thankfully, Marley survived unscathed and has since been released from the hospital and returned to his delighted owner.
“If it hadn’t been for Marley, I would have been bitten and would have been pretty awful,” Alex told KGTV. “Marley is a hero in every sense of the word. He’s my best friend. I don’t know what I’d do without him.”
Marley’s surgeries had to be paid for out of pocket by Alex, but he was willing to do so in order to save his best friend’s life. The costs, however, have been recovered thanks to GoFundMe donations. The $8,000 goal for the fundraising campaign has already been met.
In every sense of the word, Marley is a hero. It just goes to show how protective and devoted dogs can be to their owners. We are overjoyed that he is doing so well now!
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