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A pet Shiba Inu in China has been hailed a hero after it was bitten by a venomous viper while protecting its owner
The owner, a woman named Meng, said her 2-year-old dog, Hetao, bravely sprang into action when a snake slithered towards her in the family's front garden in Hebei province, China.
According to South China Morning Post, the incident occurred on the morning of 29 August, after Meng heard her other dog, Duoduo, barking.
When Hetao went to investigate, she saw the reptile slithering towards her. Without hesitation, Hetao darted forward to intercept it.
It was only after Meng and her husband dealt with the snake — identified as a venomous short-tailed Mamushi — that they realised Hetao had been bitten.
Her face was already swelling and her body was stiffening.
They rushed the brave dog to a pet clinic, but no antidote was available. While vets cleaned the wound, Meng's husband drove for hours to Beijing just to buy the life-saving medicine.
Meng stayed by Hetao's side all night, feeding her water every 30 minutes as the dog's entire head swelled from the venom. She said she cried every time Hetao howled in pain.
Thanks to the family's quick actions and unwavering dedication, Hetao slowly began to recover. After three weeks, her wound had scabbed over, and she was out of danger.
Meng said she would spare no effort to save her pets because they are family.
"She risked her life to save me. I did everything to save her. Everything we did is for us to keep each other company in the future," Meng said.
The story has since touched many online, who praised the dog's bravery and the owner's devotion.
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