Family Pittie Protects Children From Venomous Snake Attack

Melissa Butt knows her dog is a lovebug, and a protective one at that. Slayer is her beautiful pitbull, and she tells her grandchildren Zayden and Mallory that Slayer will always keep them safe.

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True to Butt’s word, Slayer proved she would do that when the children were playing in Butt’s southwest Florida backyard. Butt’s other dog Paco was out too, and both of the dogs began barking fervently at the grass, Butt said.

She tried to get them to stop, but they wouldn’t, and she sent the kids inside to be with Butt’s daughter, Cynthia. Once the children were safely inside, Butt and her daughter went back out to see what it was that got the dogs so riled up, as they were not budging.

Within the blink of an eye, they saw a snake lash out and bite both of the dogs–Paco on his little elbow and Slayer on his snout. Protecting his little buddy from more attack, Slayer grabbed the snake in his mouth and killed it, with Butt realizing she needed to get the dogs to the vet immediately.

The family at first thought the snake was a copperhead, though they aren’t sure now, but the veterinarian knew something was serious as Slayer’s face was swelling and he was having a hard time breathing. She rushed them to the nearest vet hospital, about 40 minutes away, and was frantic as she imagined they’d lose their lives protecting hers and her grandchildren.

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Thankfully, the hospital had life-saving antivenin and the dogs were treated, though at great expense. A local organization called Frankie’s Friends helped cover the costs because they were so proud of how the dogs loyally protected the family’s humans, even at their own peril.

Paco recovered more quickly than Slayer, and was able to go home after one night in the hospital, but Slayer suffered more injury and needed to have more antivenin. He got better, slowly, but is still on medication and not totally back to normal. Still, he’s home with his family, who is just overjoyed that he survived and was so protective over them.

Butt says there’s no way she could thank the organization that helped save her babies, nor her pets who helped save her grandbabies.

[Source: Today]