Pit bulls sometimes get a bad rap, depending on who you ask.
Although there are stereotypes that pit bulls are violent or unsafe to have around children, there are always stories that come out again and again disproving those charges. As the saying goes, dogs are truly man’s best friend and pit bulls fall into that category. They are loyal companions, always ready to comfort us and to show us love when we need it.
They may even come to our rescue when we least expect it.
For Melissa Butt, 47, and her family, it was another sunny day in Thonotosassa, South Florida.
Melissa is a grandmother to two grandchildren, a four-year-old boy named Zayden and a one-and-a-half-year-old girl named Mallory. Mallory and Zayden were playing in the yard with Melissa’s two dogs, Paco and Slayer, both of who were pit bulls. The day was a regular day like any other until the dogs saw something in the grass.
Suddenly, both dogs started barking ferociously.
As she heard the loud noises from inside the house, Melissa came outside to investigate.
Both dogs kept barking and wouldn’t stop, even when instructed to. Melissa suddenly realized that the situation might be serious, and sent her two grandchildren inside. As Melissa approached, she was that the two dogs were facing a real threat.
Lying coiled in the grass was a poisonous copperhead snake.
After a moment, both dogs attacked the deadly animal.
Although the children were able to make it safely inside, Paco and Slayer both sustained some damage from the encounter before killing the snake. Slayer had several bites on his face and snout while Paco also was bitten on the leg. Both dogs were poisoned and were quickly getting to critical condition.
Melissa gathered her grandchildren and the dogs and rushed them to the BluePearl emergency vet about 40 minutes away.
Although it was a race against time, the family made it to the hospital in time.
It was important to get anti-venom in the two dogs as quickly as possible for them to survive—still, these medicines are quite expensive. Fortunately, the hospital connected Melissa with non-profit Frankie’s Friends, a charity which helps families pay for exorbitant veterinary expenses.
Fortunately, these two heroic dogs made it through and are ok!
Needless to say, Melissa is beyond grateful to her two pups, Paco and Slayer.
“I’m overwhelmed with gratitude for everyone involved,” Melissa said. According to this very grateful grandmother, her two pets are “very rightfully being very, very spoiled right now.” Overall, this story goes to show that dogs can be loyal and helpful companions, no matter what the breed. Still, Melissa put it best:
“Our pets aren’t pets. They are 100 percent family members. This just proves they deserve to be.”
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.
