Pit Bull Bitten By Venomous Snake While Trying To Protect Owner

A pit bull was seriously injured after it fought and killed a snake while trying to protect its owner. The incident took place in Davidson County, Tennessee, on Monday night.

Haley McCormack was entering her house from work in the dark and she did not notice the copperhead snake lurking near the door. However, her pet dog, named Arlo, saw the reptile and immediately sprung into action in order to protect her.

"It was in this leaf-like area over here, and it was recoiled back so it was going to strike, he got there before I could go any further, he grabbed it by the tail, and then just started kind of shaking it. While he was shaking it, it was biting his face, it got him three times for sure, possibly four,” she said.

Arlo killed the reptile, however, it was seriously hurt in the incident and was rushed to a nearby animal hospital where doctors administered antivenom.

"His neck is super swollen. It made his eye almost completely swollen shut,” McCormack said, adding that Arlo was expected to make a full recovery.

"To think how much loyalty, and love he had for me, to risk his own life for mine, it's really special. It makes me have more respect for him not just as a dog, but as a family member, somebody that protects me," McCormack said. "We're both lucky to have each other for sure.”

McCormack said she was grateful to Arlo for saving her life.

“I could’ve gotten bit. He could’ve ignored the snake, he could’ve ran off. But he chose to put himself in front of me,” she said.

Vets say snakebites can be fatal to pets and that timing is crucial to save them.

“The longer you wait, the more damage that can be done,” said Dr. Whitney Long with Nashville Veterinary Specialists, adding that the number of snakebite cases increases during the summer months.