[Epoch Times, September 26, 2021] (Epoch Times reporter Louise Bevan/Julie translation) An Alabama man praised his dog for saving him after encountering a venomous snake near the water in Tuscaloosa County.
Zackary Pate, 35, was walking along the lake near his property in Brookwood with his 22-month-old Cane Corso, Ruger, by his side. As they approached the dam, the dog did something unexpected.
Zachary told The Epoch Times, “Ruger started biting my leg and wrapped his body around it as if he was trying to pull me away. His claws scratched my leg. Although we always play very roughly, this time was different.”
Whenever Zachary turned to scold Rug, Rug would hide behind him. When Zachary reached out to grab Rug’s tail and correct its behavior, he noticed the dog shaking its head vigorously back and forth.
“At first I thought it was a stick that Ruger was playing with in the water,” Zachary recalled. “Then I realized it was a snake, so I took a step back and gestured for it to follow.”
Ruger tossed aside the half-dead snake, and Zachary recognized it immediately. It was a venomous snake, known as a copperhead, common in Alabama during the summer, especially near water. Zachary grabbed a stick to do what his dog had started.
Zachary continued, “After my heartbeat returned to normal, I realized that Ruger was trying to protect me and putting himself in danger. I sat down, hugged him, and thought, ‘How can a dog know what to do and have enough judgment to do what he did?’”
Zachary was deeply moved by the thought that his dog had just saved his life. He added, “Or at least, spared me a very long and painful hospital stay.”
According to Zachary, they left his truck and walked about 150 yards downhill. If Ruger hadn’t come to his aid, he would have been “in big trouble, or dead.”
The lucky dog owner shared the story on Facebook, calling Ruger his “guardian” and “best friend.” Ruger was a 7-week-old puppy when he first brought him home. The post has been shared over 51,000 times to date. Countless netizens praised the brave puppy, while many exclaimed that their own Cane Corso dogs had also stepped in to protect them from danger.
Speaking more about Ruger, Zachary told The Epoch Times, “He’ll be two years old soon. When I come home, he still sits at my feet, sleeps by my bed while I sleep, and always looks at me. Nobody really understands a pet’s love for you until you experience something like this. That’s my motto after this.”
“I owe him my life because he saved mine,” Zachary said.