Lab Retrieves Snake

[PuggaWuggles]

Labrador in a twist after retrieving snake

HE'S never had a nose for trouble before but black labrador Bronson sure knows how to turn heads with his retrieving tricks.

The champion obedience dog stunned his Victorian owners when he recently returned to them to proudly show off his latest find.

Locked firmly in his jaws and coiled around his snout was a long, live snake, believed to be a deadly copperhead.

"He's normally an excellent duck dog but he'll pick up absolutely anything and return it to us, hanging on to it until we say 'give'," Deborah Allen said.

"My husband Peter didn't know he'd lost his mobile phone out in a paddock recently until Bronson returned with it in his mouth."

The couple were lucky to be at home together at their property at Yarragon on January 4 when Mr Allen called out to his wife: "Hey, come and look at this."

"There was Bronson with the snake hanging out of his mouth and the snake's body wrapped around his nose," Ms Allen said.

"We weren't sure if it was alive or not and we touched its head which was down at ground level and it moved - it appeared slightly stunned."

As they grappled with a plan to deal with the snake, Mr Allen told his wife to quickly take a photo first.

"He didn't reckon anyone would believe it," she said.

With a camera always by her side, Ms Allen captured the stunning sight as perfectly obedient Bronson, 11, remained totally rigid, trained not to move his head while carrying anything he had retrieved.

"But he had a real forlorn look on his face like he was saying 'Hurry up and take this thing'," Ms Allen said.

Ms Allen said their second labrador, Madeline, usually tried to steal anything Bronson was carrying.

"But this is the first time ever she wouldn't have a bar of him. She kept well away."

Ms Allen found a chaff bag and lowered it to the ground, pulling the bag up and over the snake while at the same time releasing its body which remained wrapped around Bronson's snout.

"And as soon I said 'Give' he dropped it right into the bag and we sealed up the ends."

With the snake safely stored, the pair rushed Bronson to the West Gippsland Veterinary Centre where a coagulation blood test confirmed Bronson had copped a bite.

Four days in hospital followed on a drip, but Bronson is now happily at home.

Australian Veterinary Association president Peter Gibbs said an alarming number of pets had been brought to clinics this summer for treatment of snake bites.

"Snakes tend to be at their most active towards the end of day, with snake bites usually happening in late afternoon or early evening," Dr Gibbs said.

"Dog owners should avoid snake-prone areas."

Symptoms of snakebite include seizures, vomiting, bleeding around the bite, weakness in the limb and paralysis. The animal will collapse with laboured breathing.

Urgent treatment is needed but call ahead so they have antivenene on standby.

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0...5013016,00.html

[Stolzseinrotts]

Oh my...what a lucky boy he is to survive. The picture is very scary, look at the size of the snake.........it is not a small one.

[spottychick]

It's HUGE! What a great dog - glad he's okay

[sandgrubber]

One my worst nightmares. My Labs love to pick things up. It's a worry to see that this one didn't have instinctual fear of snakes, or not enough to override the retrieve drive and soft mouth. Great dog. So glad he survived.

[huski]

Can't believe they took a photo of it :D Had it been my dogs I would have wanted the bloody thing off the dog ASAP.

[Longclaw]

Me too Huski... I would be imagining if he died because his treatment was just a few minutes too late...

Having said that - who knows, perhaps the husband was getting the chaff bag while the wife was taking the photo, and no time was actually wasted :D

It's a pretty horrifying read, would have been very frightening. I dread my guys coming into contact with snakes, and we had a close encounter on Saturday which is no doubt making this story a little close to home for me.

I wonder if the owners are DOLers???

[spottychick]

Yeah it doesnt seem like these people would endanger their dog any more than necessary. The snake was stunned, they had to think fast and get the bag etc - I can see why they quickly took a pic while doing all that. Great shot to have for the future!!

[Affirmation]

OMG that snake was huge. I'm glad doggy is ok after his ordeal though :D

I would've been p**ping my pants if that was my dog, I think the last thing on my mind would've been the camera but great photo all the same.

[kayla1]

I’d be far too worried about the dog to even think about taking a photo. That is one lucky dog.

[Bilbo Baggins]

OMgiddyG one hellva snake.. Lucky dog. :rofl:

[redangel]

Actually it is a blessing that the dog showed the snake to his owners...as said he had been bitten....they would have been clueless if they hadnt seen this sight, and well...identification was easier!. I think I personally would have been a basket case.

[grabit]

My mothers Lab has done this to her twice now both times with live brown snakes and she is petrified of them( more so than your average person)! How he hasn't been bitten is anyones guess!