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| Down Under |
| Hero dog saves boy from snake |
| 2008-11-14 |
| A DOG that leapt between a three-year-old boy and a highly venomous brown snake has been honoured by the RSPCA. Diesel, a cattle dog-dingo cross, was today hailed as a hero and received a big bone for saving a Sunshine Coast couple's grandson from being bitten by the snake. Drew Gralike was playing on a swing last month at his grandfather's Eumundi property when the snake appeared. Diesel leapt between the boy and the snake, receiving a near-fatal bite. Drew's grandfather, Stan Gralike, told ABC Radio that the snake was about to strike when Diesel intervened. "When the snake came up and was about to strike, everything was just like it was slow motion, because I couldn't get to Drew quick enough and the snake was up ready to strike and Diesel was like a cat," Mr Gralike said. "He twisted in mid-air, took off on one leg and got between Drew and the snake and grappled with the snake." The family rushed Diesel to the nearest veterinary clinic where he pulled through after a second dose of anti-venom. For his courageous act, he received a plaque declaring him the winner of the RSPCA's animal achievement award. |
| Posted by:tipper |
| #7 Yah, dogs are immune to snake venom. Cats aren't so lucky. Neither is. But cats are fast enough (plus they don't need to bite to cause real damage) to kill snakes without being bitten. Dogs aren't |
| Posted by: JFM 2008-11-14 18:29 |
| #6 I've never had a dog I didn't like. They are neat critters. Presently we have a Mountain Cur (hunting dog) and a Shelty-combination (herding dog). Someone once said that if you owned 7 Mountain Curs you could get yourself a bear. All of the dogs we've had just showed up one day. We tried to find who they belonged to without luck and eventually figured they just belonged to us. We had a Shepherd, a Rottweiler, terrier mix, and a bunch of others of the Heinz breed. I think hogs might be immune to snake venom. |
| Posted by: JohnQC 2008-11-14 18:16 |
| #5 dogs are not immune to eastern brown snake venom |
| Posted by: Sundown 2008-11-14 15:59 |
| #4 For y'all out there maybe dog shopping AlanC is absolutely correct. These dogs out here are working dogs; cowboy friend has a Red Heeler he won't go work cattle without; takes on bulls and distracts them or motivates stubborn cows with those nips. As a game he would say, "Get'em" to people and that dog would without hesistation start nipping the heels of that person (except for me, she'd just look back at cowboy friend and look, 'but he's my buddy'. Other people, didn't enjoy the game so much). |
| Posted by: swksvolFF 2008-11-14 15:26 |
| #3 Yah, dogs are immune to snake venom. Cats aren't so lucky. |
| Posted by: Kojo Unoque3360 2008-11-14 14:56 |
| #2 swksvoIFF said " Blue and Red Heelers around here and they are magnificent dogs; fearless, smart, loyal, run forever." As a former Blue owner let me also add ...run forever AND bite! They earned the name Heeler because that's how they herd cattle...nipping at their heels. They are not suitable for urban or suburban households as they will bite children in the course of herding them. Not to mention that their loyalty includes attacking anything or anyone that they judge to be a threat to their herd. |
| Posted by: AlanC 2008-11-14 13:14 |
| #1 I have no doubt this is exactly what happened. Blue and Red Heelers around here and they are magnificent dogs; fearless, smart, loyal, run forever. |
| Posted by: swksvolFF 2008-11-14 12:03 |