by John Muir

Created on: February 28, 2008

Sometimes dogs really can be heroes. Two months ago, a family from Atherton, a town in north Queensland, decided they wanted a pet cum Guard Dog. Visiting their local pound, they were shown many dogs,but none seemed quite the right dog for them.

They were about to leave, when they noticed, in a holding Pen, a dog they had not been offered.Asking why he was not offered to them, his story revealed that he had just been admitted. His previous owners had starved and regularly beaten him. He was in appalling condition.

The family had a quick conference, and decided to wait until the RSPCA decided he was fit to be adopted. Some weeks later they proudly picked up their new pet, which just happened to be a Dobermann Pinscher.

He seemed to settle OK, seemed to understand that his bad days were over. Only 4 days into his new home, the lady of the house was looking out her Kitchen window while she was washing her Breakfast Crockery. In the back yard was an idyllic scene.Baby, 14 months, was crawling on the lawn, Dobermann lying blissfully in the sun.

Suddenly, the Dobermann rose, ran the the child, picker up by her Diaper, and threw her across the yard.

Mother, in shock and horror, raced out to protect her baby from what she, quite naturally , thought was a dog attack.

As she ran to the baby, she noticed that the dog had lost all interest in the baby, but seemed focused on part of the lawn.

Going over to severely chastise the dog, she was stunned to see him doing battle with a Taipan Snake, Australia's most venomous snake. Only then did it dawn on her, that far from attacking her Baby, he had saved the baby's life!

Badly bitten himself, he was rushed to the nearest Veterinarian, to see if his life could be saved.

Hearing the circumstances, the Vet promised that he would do all that was in his power to save the dog. After 48 hours of constant treatment, with either the Vet or one of his Assistants there, one very wobbly dog was released back to his owners. On trying to pay for the treatment, the vet refused to accept any money, saying that this dog, which had known such an unhappy life, had proved himself a Hero, and cost did not come into the effort to save his life.

Needless to say, the dog will never find itself looking for another home, he is there to stay!

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