Just a few weeks ago, a young couple and their Yorkie took a hike on the Centennial Trail near Sheridan Lake in Black Hills, South Dakota.
Little did they know it would end in a Bear vs. rattlesnake duel – and one that might have saved Alex Diede’s life.
Neither Devin nor Alex Diede noticed the rattlesnake on the trail. But their 11-year-old Yorkshire Terrier Bear did.
This is Bear. And he’s willing to put his life on the line for his humans.
“Alex would have stepped on the snake and bit her if Bear had not been there to take the bite,” Devin told KEVN News.
Unfortunately, in the skirmish, Bear was bitten by the rattlesnake.
For humans, rattlesnake bites are only fatal if someone has an allergic reaction (although their still hurt!).
But for a dog as small as Bear, this was life or death.
The couple needed to get him off the trail immediately if he was going to get help in time.
At first, the couple had no idea Bear had been bitten. The snake didn’t even rattle until after it struck the dog. And Bear was being stoic about his injury.
“He didn’t he didn’t yip or bark,” Diede said.
The Diedes couldn’t find any puncture wounds at first either. But once they noticed he was having trouble putting weight on his front leg, they laid him down to take a closer look.
Once they saw the marks, they knew they had to get him to the vet as soon as possible.
That meant virtually running down the hill 2 miles back to their car and racing to the emergency animal hospital. And by the time they got there, Bear could no longer walk at all.
Luckily, Bear got great care as soon as they arrived at the clinic.
“Thankfully, the veterinarians and technicians at the emergency animal clinic in Rapid City were wonderful. The vet took him and immediately started a blood transfusion,” Mr. Diede told KEVN.
But this was serious business, not an in-and-out procedure. The Diedes would need to leave Bear at the clinic for continuing treatment – and there was no guarantee he could survive.
Heartbroken, the couple returned home, leaving the brave dog that had just saved their lives, wondering if they would ever see him alive again.
Bear had just one puncture wound, but it was on his chest.
But everyone got lucky. Despite his size and his age, Bear fought like a champ.
The couple took their hike on Friday – and by Saturday morning the vet was able to report that the little Yorkie’s bloodwork looked great. The transfusion worked!
They were told they could come to pick up Bear within 24 hours of having dropped him off with a life-threatening injury.
After taking him home, they realized he’d soon be as good as new.
What a relief for the couple whose dog had bravely gotten between them and a rattlesnake!
Mr. Diede told KEVN a week later that Bear was pretty much back to his old self.
“He’s doing surprisingly well. He’s walking around just fine and as happy as could be. He’s a tough little guy and most definitely a hero.”
And, of course, he quickly got back to the important business of roughhousing with his canine brother.
We’re so glad this story had a happy ending!
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Source: KEVN News, Facebook – Alex Diede
H/t: I Heart Dogs
