Brave chihuahua sacrifices own life to save owner
If ever you needed a reason to convince your partner to let you adopt a dog, let this be it. A brave 10-year-old chihuahua named Cooper has sacrificed his own life to save his family after discovering a deadly eastern brown snake in the backyard.
Evangeline Lim from the Gold Coast was about to hang her washing out on the line last week when she heard her loyal pooch barking at something in the backyard – one of Australia’s most venomous snakes.
“The snake was upside down and Cooper was on top of it and wrestling,” the Hope Island woman told the Gold Coast Bulletin. “He was obviously saving me from the snake.”
With Cooper’s help, Evangeline and her family managed to trap the snake under a pot plant. Unfortunately, the courageous canine had been bitten in the process, and he sadly died 10 minutes later after suffering cardiac arrest while in the car en route to the vet.
According to Tony Harrison from Gold Coast and Brisbane Snake Catchers, eastern browns are more common in the Gold Coast area than you might think. “I catch a couple a day so people need to be more aware,” he told news.com.au.
He explained that the deadly species are quick to defend themselves as soon as they feel threatened, which is likely the reason why it began wrestling with Cooper.
“As soon as a dog interacts with a snake you should be hightailing it to the vet. I’ve seen plenty of dogs and cats attacked by brown snakes over the years and many of them don’t last 10 minutes,” he said.
Harrison says the venom from an eastern brown snake can quickly cause blood clots and muscle seizures in both animals and humans. “It’s not a nice thing at all. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone, let alone a little chihuahua.”
Have any of your pets ever been in danger of a snake at your home? Share your story with us in the comments below.