A dog who saved her owner from a rattlesnake has been hailed for her bravery and was even awarded with a special certificate at the vet’s office.
The dog, named Dodge, was rushed to the vet’s office in early August after being bitten by a large rattlesnake. Dr. Mary-Frances Wylie, the veterinarian who oversaw Dodge’s treatment, kept her in the hospital for two days and administered five vials of antivenin.
Wylie told Newsweek that Dodge was bitten by a venomous eastern diamondback rattlesnake, which can be very dangerous and even fatal to people and pets. The terrifying bite left Dodge with a swollen snout, but it was the reason why she got bitten that left staff so endeared by this sweet pup.
“Her dad said she got between him and the bush and was bitten,” Wylie said. “He said he would have been bitten if she hadn’t gotten in between them. Her bloodwork was continuously monitored, and she was given pain medications and fluids until she improved.”
After hearing about why Dodge was bitten by the snake, staff at the vet’s office couldn’t resist awarding her with a certificate for “totally crushing it.” It was placed on the glass outside her kennel and highlighted that she “saved her dad from a rattlesnake.”
The eastern diamondback rattlesnake is North America’s longest and heaviest venomous snake, with an average length of 3 to 6 feet long. However, some adult snakes can even grow up to 8 feet long, according to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute.
They typically prefer scrublands, coastal forests, barrier islands, and wiregrass flatwoods. They are known for being ambush predators who lie in wait until their prey comes along, usually feasting on small mammals or birds.
As eastern diamondback rattlesnakes release venom in every bite, it’s considered a very deadly animal.
Fortunately, Dodge made a full recovery and is back home with her family.
Wylie continued: “We use these cute certificates for employees when they do something awesome, but my technician AJ put one on Dodge’s cage because she was so brave and sweet, even though she was in pain.”
Wylie couldn’t resist sharing a video on TikTok (@mfewylie) of Dodge’s certificate following her heroic efforts. In just a matter of days it has melted plenty of hearts, leading to more than 414,300 views and 103,100 likes on TikTok at the time of writing.
While the internet isn’t necessarily known for its joy and kindness, Wylie has been blown away by the response since sharing the video on TikTok. The online response has been overwhelmingly positive, as hundreds of social media users took to the comments section to show their support for Dodge.
She told Newsweek: “It’s been so fun seeing the outpouring of love for Dodge on social media. We get a lot of hate and negativity in our field, so seeing everyone being this kind was really a breath of fresh air.
“Here in the southeastern US, we see snake bites all the time. Rattlesnake bites are very serious, so if your dog is bitten by a snake, please seek veterinary care immediately.”
With over 200 comments on the video so far, TikTok users have praised Dodge’s courageous act.
One comment reads: “What a brave little warrior.”
Another TikTok user wrote: “Queen! Hope she’s good as new soon.”
Another person replied: “I just know everyone in that office spoiled her.”
While one commenter added: “unlimited treats for life.”
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