Heroic Great Dane Saves Owner's Life From Rattlesnake Attack in California

A Great Dane called Mia is regaining her strength at her Oceanside home after stepping in as a hero during an encounter with a rattlesnake.

(Photo : Pixabay)

The Encounter

During her lunch break, about two weeks ago, Megan Montano went back to her home and freed her two dogs onto her backyard terrace. Montano got down to put the tether on her chihuahua named Rebel when she noticed  Mia ran to her left.

Montano said: "Then suddenly, (I) slightly noticed her bump into my side and rear back while making a sound, I turned my head to the left and I noticed there was a snake."

Just a foot from Montano was a rattlesnake that was foot-and-a-half long. Montano said she thinks the dog thought it was a trespasser and was going to possibly push it out, she said she should have been bitten.

And she doesn't know how it didn't happen. Mia wasn't so fortunate. Montano said the snake kept attempting to strike her mouth with her paw.

Immediately, she knew it had bitten her. As the mouth of Mia swelled up, Montano took her immediately to the vet. Mia was given one dose of antivenin, before she was released that night. While more symptoms later made Mia go back to the vet some days later, Montano gave a report that the dog is feeling much better now.

Also Read: 'Extremely Painful': California Man Attacked While Using Barbecue Tongs to Remove Rattlesnake

Montano's Message to Pet Owners 

Montano said she would say Mia is definitely her hero dog. Some months into rattlesnake season, Montano is believing to avoid the need for future heroics. "They now stayed indoor until I clear patio, before I allow them out," Montano said. She has a message she wants to pass on to other pet owners.

"Be conscious of your surroundings, and just be clever. Keep your head on a swivel always," Montano said.

The rattlesnake, assumed to still be young, was discovered the day after the bite, then caught and relocated. Rattlesnake, any among the 33 species of venomous New World vipers that possess a segmented rattle at the end of the tail that makes s a buzzing sound when vibrated.

(Photo : Getty Images)

Rattlesnake Season on the Central Coastline is Here, Be Careful!

Researchers say they've started seeing more slithering all over the local yards this spring because of the drought. Professor of Biological Sciences at Cal Poly and also an owner of Central Coast Snake Services, Emily Taylor said: "The snakes are thirsty." Emily studies the snakes and wrangles them from local yards. 

Rattlesnakes are discovered from southern Canada to central Argentina but are most numerous and diverse in northern Mexico and southwestern United States deserts. Grown-ups usually differ in length from 1.6 to 6.6 feet (0.5 to 2 metres), but some can develop to 8.2 feet (2.5 metres).

 A few species are marked with crosswise bands, but most rattlesnakes are marked with dark diamonds, rhombuses, or hexagons on a faint background, commonly gray or light brown; some are different shades of red, pink, orange, or green.

The most common species found in North America are the western and the eastern diamondbacks, the prairie rattlesnake of the western United States, and the timber rattle snake of the eastern United States.

Related Article: The Rattlesnake Season Is Here - Fish and Wildlife Notifies California Residents to be Wary

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