Colorado dog saves baby from rattlesnake

[The Straight Story]

Colorado dog saves baby from rattlesnake
The Associated Press | Monday, Jul 23 2007 8:07 AM

Last Updated: Monday, Jul 23 2007 8:10 AM

Zoey is a Chihuahua, but when a rattlesnake lunged at her owners' 1-year-old grandson, she was a real bulldog.

Booker West was splashing his hands in a birdbath in his grandparents' northern Colorado back yard when the snake slithered up to the toddler, rattled and struck. Five-pound Zoey jumped in the way and took the bites.

"She got in between Booker and the snake, and that's when I heard her yipe," said Monty Long, the boy's grandfather.

The dog required treatment and for a time it appeared she might not survive. Now she prances about.

http://www.bakersfield.com/hourly_news/story/194785.html

[Madspirit]

1. k&r for the heroic tiny dog...n/t

[xchrom]

2. no one will ever love you as much as your dog --

and this is just one of many wonderful and miraculous examples.


:woohoo: Zoey!! :woohoo:

[FredMertz]

52. Amen!! n/t

[tridim]

3. Kick for the dogs!

Sometimes I have more respect for dogs than I do for humans. I hope that dog got a nice juicy steak for dinner.

[shireen]

21. me too! nt

[DBoon]

26. no republican would ever sacrifice themselves to save you

but a dog will.

Proof that dogs are higher than republicans in the great chain of being.

[dkofos]

57. What about scooter??

[judaspriestess]

30. me three

I'd rather be in room full of doggies than a room full of hateful humans any day.

[Marnieworld]

41. me 4

Actually I'd rather be in a room full of doggies than a room full of any kind of people. :hi:

[SammyWinstonJack]

53. ...

:thumbsup:

[mahatmakanejeeves]

4. I was just about to post that.

What a great story.

[malaise]

5. What a lovely story

K & R

[Richard Steele]

6. What a great story! nm

[pitohui]

7. these chihuahuas are high testosterone (even the females) and don't know their own size

they have a lot of heart, you got to hand it to them

glad the little gal is going to survive, she's a true hero

[YOY]

Are you sure it's testosterone?

Enough estrogen when one's family is in danger and you're a powerhouse formidable enough to take down any threat.

"The female of the species" dude. Don't mess with it.

[glitch]

17. You got that right brother! ;) nt

[pitohui]

19. i don't know what it is, but male chihuahaus have it too

maybe for lack of knowing the science behind it we can just call it "attitude"

[Kingshakabobo]

22. That dog had a lot of balls!!!

:hide:
:evilgrin:

[YOY]

12. Dupe

n/t

[glitch]

8. Amazing little sweetheart! Cute kid too. nt

[aquart]

9. Good doggie!

[applegrove]

10. We need at least one wonderful story like this - a day.

[glitch]

16. Good for our hearts.

and souls :)

[applegrove]

28. Yup. Warms you up.

:hi:

[BOSSHOG]

11. That's one badass puppy dog! Top Sirloin Medium Rare

[AspenRose]

13. Aw, how sweet. Sometimes our guardian angels walk on 4 legs and have fur.

That is just too precious.

[grace0418]

14. YAY FOR ZOEY!

I love that story!

[LostInAnomie]

15. "Get that dog to the pit!" - Michael Vick

eom

[havocmom]

18. Never underestimate the devotion of a dog.

Never.

[burythehatchet]

23. "I wish I was the person my dog thinks I am" - one of my fav bumper stickers. n/t

[shireen]

20. they really really are our best friends

A dog with his pack (family), treated with respect, discipline, and love, is the best friend they will ever have. It's a loving, loyal, honest, uncomplicated relationship.

I love cats too, but that's a different kind of relationship: they're the center of our universe and we happily worship them! :)

That's why it hurts so bad when we read about pet abuse. All these pets want to do is please the people who "own" them, even if it means pain and suffering. I will never understand humans who abuse pets, and will be wary of them because that behavior likely extends to the humans in their lives.

[tandot]

24. K & R for brave, fearless chihuahuas

[DemoTex]

25. My best friend's dad was saved by his Boston terrier on Cuba during WW-II.

A softball the guys were tossing went errant and into a hole. RLR, Sr., ran to the hole to retrieve the ball. As he stuck his hand toward the hole, his Boston terrier, Bosco, jumped in ahead of his hand. The big, lurking rattlesnake bit Bosco, but not RLR, Sr. Bosco died from the snakebite. Until he died at age 88 a few years ago, RLR, Sr., always kept a dog in the house; always a Boston terrier; and always named Bosco.

[tridim]

27. Bostons are the most human of all dogs IMO

I actually use the word "PERSONality" on purpose when describing Bostons. Their brains are tuned in to ours somehow.

I've had about 12 throughout the years.

[glitch]

29. This caused me to burst into tears.

Some one in my family always has a Boston Terrier, it's the law.

[Gloria]

31. OH, I love these guys! Although my two would probably run the other direction!

However, Slick, the min pin who I rescued from the streets, was protecting my relatives from Tico (adopted chi) when there were here visiting last month. Every time Tico attempted to go for the ankles, Slick would step in and chase him away!!!

I LOVE DOGS!!!

[rhiannon55]

32. Awww! What a good doggie!

[LWolf]

33. Thank you for sharing this today.

An act of selfless love; common from our dogs, too rare among people.

I think I'll go give my dog a hug and thank her for the constant, total devotion she gives to me.

[roguevalley]

34. I have had dogs always and four of five dachshunds now. They h

have stood off people and moose and everything else for me. God help the person who tries to break into my house. I love them. This is why that football player has struck such a cord in people. Dogs are love and devotion and loyalty. they will die for you. my mom was walking home and our aussie shepherd/blue heeler mix ran for her, was struck by a car, rolled and kept running. that is what dogs will do to get close enough to love you. this tyke is a lion. look at his sweet little sick face. hugs to all for such a lovely story.

[bleedingheart]

47. my dachsund growing up was very fierce in her defense of my brother and myself

she was one wild doggie..

[JudyM]

35. What a beauty she is! Is she part Australian shepard? nt

[LWolf]

43. My dog is an Australian shepherd.

That was a stock aussie photo that looks a lot like her; I've since uploaded a pic of my real dog onto photobucket:

[JudyM]

49. Sweet. I only met one of that breed, but was memorably impressed by how tuned in and sweet she was.

I love dogs... we had 3 litters of Weimaraners when I was growing up, such sheer joy. They're also quite smart and extremely gentle.

[tblue37]

36. Is that your dog?

That pic is featured on the Austrlian Shepherd home page. Australian Shepherds are extraordinarily smart dogs--and absolutely beautiful. Is that gorgeous baby yours, or just a pic you found online to represent the breed you adore?

[LWolf]

42. Not my dog,

but it looks so much like her I used it. I didn't have a pic of my dog on photobucket. Since you asked, I uploaded one, posted below.

My girl is extraordinarily smart, and as faithful and devoted as they come.

When we go out in public she is, of course, on a leash. Her greatest downfall is that I didn't spend enough time in enough public places with her as a puppy, and she views the rest of the world as something to protect her herd (me) from. She gets overexcited when anyone approaches within about 6 feet of me. Even people she knows really well. She "moves them off" by wiggling her little stub tail to assure them of her friendly intent, and "leaning" on them until they back up.

At home, she stays in what ever room I'm in. If I'm outside, she's within 10 feet of me, where ever I go. She's also a great trail dog; she loves to go with me when I ride my horse out. Then she's not leashed, as it is difficult to manage the leash from up on the horse. I carry the leash in my saddle bag, in case we see other people. She stays in sight of the horse at all times. When we're out on our own, she takes the lead, and my mare follows. When we're out with a group of riders, she will follow along after the last horse, but every 15 minutes or so she runs up to the front and waits, "counting" everyone on their way by to make sure we're all together, before she takes up tail guard again.

I never have to worry about her getting loose or running away. She will not leave me, where ever I am, and if I'm not home, she will not leave home. She's taking care of it while she waits for my return.

She considers herself to be 3rd in "seniority" in the family pack. I'm first, and the cat is 2nd. She does whatever I tell her to do without hesitation, and while the cat allows her rather wet greetings, she also defers to the cat. Unfortunately, she sees the rest of the family as part of my "herd," and sees her job as directing them, not obeying them. She is affectionate and playful with them, but completely oblivious of anything they ask her to do.

She lives peaceably with the chickens that free-range all over the place, and helps with the sheep. She loves to play with other dogs, once she's established that they are not allowed to approach me.

She is a most wonderful dog, and I have no doubt at all that she would challenge a rattlesnake if I were threatened.

[tblue37]

45. Aussies and border collies are the most remarkable animals.

Watching them work is such a treat.

There was a border collie pup who lived on a hill I had to walk up to get to campus some years ago. I used to get the biggest kick out of watching the pup "herd" the aging Himalyan cat the family had. The cat was used to having the run of the neighborhood, but whenever the pup was outside, he would herd the cat back onto the yard whenever it tried to stray. The cat would be quite obviously pissed about it, too, but would go back to where the pup was herding it.

Your dog is gorgeous. I would love to have such an animal! (I have 3 cats. They are my babies.)

[David Zephyr]

37. Great story! Made my day.

:)

[Joe Chi Minh]

38. On the Asperger's syndrome thread, I mentioned a book from which two excerpts

were published, the last two Sundays, in the TV-programme magazine of a daily paper.

The mother of a very autistic child tells the story of how a golden retriever helped bring about a change in their son that seems like a miracle - although the beneficial effects a pet dog can have on seriously troubled, unhappy people is pretty well-known, I believe.

I haven't read the book, but just the two excerpts are very moving and uplifting to read. The boy who used to fly into a fit of rage at the word 'OK' or 'school', for example, is now a 19-year old, training to work in childcare. And he certainly doesn't sound, now, like a person lacking in empathy, or maturity. It's an astonishing, wonderful story.

[Joe Chi Minh]

39. I was too late to edit the first post, so here is more about it:

"On the Asperger's syndrome thread, I mentioned a book from which two excerpts were published, the last two Sundays, in the TV-programme magazine of a daily paper.

The mother of a very autistic child (apparently, autism is similar but much more severe than Asperger's) tells the story of how a pet golden retriever helped bring about a change in their son that seems like a miracle - although the beneficial effects a pet dog can have on seriously troubled, unhappy people is pretty well-known, I believe. It all started when things seemed as if they couldn't get worse, and Dale's father was suddenly inspired to talk to him as if Henry, the dog was speaking through him.

"'Dale, I told him, your writing is very good. Im so proud of you.' Dale took great exception to this and I remembered the word 'proud' was one he couldn't bear (I think I understood Dale here, when I read that horrible but brilliant and hilarious, favourite bumper sticker of burythehatchet... as if we could ever be as good!) He stormed around the room, shouting, 'Don't say "proud!"' all the while clutching at his head. I tried to reassure him, saying, 'It's a good thing that I'm proud of you. It's okay.'

I realised too late I had used the word 'okay' and his distress escalated. Don't say 'okay' he screamed and I knew he was heading into a full-blown tantrum as he started to bang his head against the wall. I had no option but to restrain him as I always had in the past.

I used my weight to hold him down, cradling his head as I tried to reassure him. Such was the force of Dale's anger that I had to sit with him like this for forty minutes, during which time he ripped the sleeve off my blouse. This was the scene that greeted Jamie on his return from work. Relieved to see him, I said, 'Dale, look who it is - it's Dad.'

Jamie tried in vain to reassure him and I remember muttering to Jamie, 'This is terrible, even the dog looks worried now.'

For some reason this produced in Jamie a moment of divine inspiration. He suddenly adopted a deep refined voice and told our son, 'Dale, this is Henry speaking. I hate it when you cry. I'm so worried. could you please stop this. On hearing this, Dale immediately calmed down and composed himself, telling his dog, All right, Henry. I'm sorry.' Jamie and I looked at each other in slightly bewilderd relief, and then Jamie said in the same deep voice, 'So, Dale, shall we go for a run, then?' At these words, my little boy sat up, practically threw me off him and said, 'All right, Henry, let's go.'

Later that night, neither of us fully appreciating what had happened earlier, we steeled ourselves for the forthcoming bedtime battles. Jamie broached the subject, suggesting, 'Dale, pyjamas. It's bedtime.'

Henry was lying in front of the fire deep in a contented sleep. Dale looked at his dog and said, 'No, Dad, speak like Henry.' Jamie cottoned on and in what would become a familiar voice, said 'Dale, this is Henry speaking. Please get your pyjamas. It's bedtime. I'm tired. I'm going to my bed.' At this Dale responded, 'All right, Henry, and off he trotted to his bedroom. We sat bemused, thinking there was still a battle ahead of us, but Dale came down actually dressed in his pyjamas - something he'd never done before.

Jamie and I sat there, stunned, and then Jamie found his voice - his own this time, 'Goodnight, son.'Another all-time first followed when Dale said, 'Goodnight, Dad' - finally responding on our own terms. This was so good to hear that I took a chance myself, saying, 'Good night, Dale.'The resulting 'Goodnight, Mum' was the sweetest music ever to reach my ears."

Obviously I can't go on, but if that seemed the most dramatic and wonderful episode, there are others, maybe less dramatic ones that Dale's mother relates, at least as uplifting and wonderful.

And he certainly doesn't sound, now, at 19, like a person lacking in empathy, or maturity. It's an astonishing, wonderful story.

[glitch]

44. That was such an interesting story I googled it.

http://www.awares.org/pkgs/news/news.asp?showItemID=727&board=&bbcode=&profileCode=§ion=

Puppy helps autistic boy to speak

GREENOCK, Renfrewshire, Scotland; The story of an autistic boy freed from his world of silence by a puppy is to be told in a TV drama.

Dale Gardner, 18, learned how to speak and form relationships thanks to Henry, a golden retriever.

Together, they defied medical opinion to allow Dale to attend a mainstream school, obtain seven Standard Grades, go to college and lead a "normal" teenage life.

Now the amazing tale has been turned into heartwarming ITV1 drama After Thomas - to be shown on Boxing Day - and his mum is writing a book, Talking To Henry, to give hope to other families.

Dale, of Greenock, Renfrewshire, said: "Henry was sent to help me and now life is good and I'm in college. He was the key that unlocked my mind."

[Joe Chi Minh]

54. Thank you for the interesting article. It was interesting to learn more about

their story.

I found the story of that family, all three heroic in their different ways, as so tenderly expressed by Dale's mother in her account, very uplifting.

Trying to make sense of the world, we are often obliged to generalise, and the mindset that that can eventually engender can subliminally affect our thinking; or mine, at least. So, it gave me a bit of a jolt to read that Mr Gardner works in the City. Imagine the stresses he would encounter in his workplace, and then the prospect of the likely trials that at one time would evidently have lay ahead for him and his wife in the evenings.

My wife and I have every reason to be very grateful for the advice given to us, completely free of charge, by legal and financial specialists who work, pro bono, in our Citizen's Advice bureaux, so it was good to be reminded that there are terrific people working in almost all walks of life, including the law and finance, as well as, of course, as those who are unemployed or retired; sometimes people whose lives, unknown to the rest of us, almost beggar belief in their heroism.

[glitch]

58. Here's to the quiet heroism of everyday people.

Sometimes we forget them cuz they don't have four legs and fur and maybe they aren't quite so cute.
:toast:

[LeftishBrit]

40. Wow - great story! THAT'S a real heroine!

[librechik]

46. so remember this story when you decide to move to Colorful Colorado

and bring a nice big stick or a chihuahua

[Wcross]

48. Well, she did warn her human about the snake.

I watched these guys kill a copperhead in my yard one day. They would not stop, they were determined to kill it. It was a great display of "pack teamwork" the younger two distracted the snake (Larry & Curly in front). The two older dogs (Angel & Buddy) each grabbed an end of the snake and ran in opposite directions. Nobody was bitten, the snake died and the dogs were proud of themselves each taking turns walking around with the snake remains in their mouths.

[brentspeak]

56. Cool dogs!

:thumbsup:

[yardwork]

50. SKINNER - don't miss this story about a brave chihuahua!

[Eurobabe]

51. Awww, what a brave little pup

Glad she survived.

[AtomicKitten]

55. Hooray for Super Dog.