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PHOENIX, AZ – A Phoenix dog is hailed as a "hero" for jumping in front of his owner and taking a poisonous rattlesnake bite in his face. Paula Godwin, of Anthem, told Patch that she took her two dogs on a trail near North Seventh Avenue and West Carefree Highway around 7 pm Friday. As they walked down the hill, his curious six-month-old golden retriever, Todd, turned to his foot.
"I have not seen the snake and I am so careful when it comes to these things," Godwin said. , noting that she has lived all her life in the area and knows the dangers. "This rattlesnake was so disguised that I did not see this thing."
The snake, an adult with a greyish color and white spots, did not make any noise until it was too late.
"I think the snake slept because I did not even hear a rattle, it was super silent," Godwin says.
Todd put his nose down to see what was on the trail. The snake immediately bit him on the nose and cheek.
"When he hit, he started to shake," she said. If Godwin had not shook and receded, the snake could have bitten his 3 year old retriever, Copper, too.
"Todd has saved me," she says. "I would have been a little certain if it was not for my puppy to try to see what it was."
The dog immediately cried and choked with pain. Godwin picked him up, rushed to the track, and put him in the car, racing at Animal Hospital in Anthem.
"I have broken many traffic laws to be sure to bring it there," she joked. "I did not pay attention to traffic laws for 10 minutes."
While large dogs usually do not need anti-venom, Todd was young and had been bitten in the face, so the hospital staff immediately gave him part of the medicine. Todd remained hospitalized for 12 hours. After paying $ 1,500, he had to go home Friday night.
"My husband and I stayed with him all night, watching him and we just made sure he was comfortable," Godwin said.
Two days later, you never know that he was bitten by a grouch, she said.
"He wants to play, he is so turbulent and he acts as if nothing has happened," she said. "It's so crazy."
The swelling of her face has dropped "a lot," she adds. Although they can not wash the dried blood off his face for about 10 days, doctors say that he will have no problem in the long run.
Despite this, Godwin says that she wants the snake to have bitten instead.
"At least I would have understood why I was bitten," she says. "He was so innocent and did not know what was going on."
Godwin said that she was grateful that the snake is an adult and not a teenager, which usually releases more venom.
Photos credit: Paula Godwin, used with permission
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