Puppy Who Saved Owner from Rattlesnake Bite Is Named Dog of the Year
Heroes come in all shapes and sizes. For one woman from Phoenix, Arizona, her hero came in the form of her very own guard dog.
Paula Goodwin was out walking one morning with her dogs when things suddenly went south.
“It was a beautiful morning,” Goodwin wrote on Facebook. Not the kind of morning you’d expect to land anyone in the hospital.
“As we were walking down the hill,” Goodwin’s post continued. “I literally almost stepped on a… rattlesnake.”
According to the Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center, “there are approximately 8,000 venomous snakebites each year in the U.S. — these typically result in eight to 15 deaths.”
The Humane Society of Southern Arizona even offers Rattlesnake Avoidance Training periodically. According to the most recent training event page, the “class gives dogs the necessary training to help prevent an expensive and potentially deadly snakebite.”
However, it ended up being lucky for Goodwin that her Golden Retriever, Todd, chose NOT to avoid a bite in this particular scenario.
“My hero of a puppy Todd saved me. He jumped right in front of my leg,” she wrote. Goodwin said she’s certain she would have been bitten if Todd hadn’t saved her.
Poor Todd was in the hospital for 12 hours following the incident. Goodwin shared in a Streamy Awards video. “It looked like he had another head because it was so swollen.”
Goodwin posted photos of Todd on Facebook, simply wanting prayers for her sweet hero of a puppy. That post has since been shared over 5K times!
It’s no wonder Todd was chosen as a finalist for Milk-Bone’s Dog of the Year Award! Watch as Goodwin shares her full story.
Now Todd has rightfully been named Dog of the Year! Is there any pet more deserving? Goodwin shared her gratitude as she stood on stage at the Streamy Awards.
“I want to say thank you to Milk-Bone for putting this honor together,” Goodwin said. “It’s about time we start honoring our pets more.”
“I want to say thank you to the voters that voted for Todd!” Goodwin continued. “He is my hero and he is so worthy! Thank you so much!
Todd is certainly the dog I’d want around in a scary situation like the one Goodwin found herself in. Way to go, puppy!
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