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Tiny dog with giant heart saves toddler
Chihuahua intercepts rattler’s strike


The Longs don’t often see rattlesnakes in their manicured backyard behind a yellow farmhouse near Masonville, CO.

But last week, a rattler slithered onto the rocks in their yard and into the path of their 1-year-old grandson, Booker West.

As Booker splashed his hands in a birdbath in the yard, and as his grandfather, Monty Long, watched him, both unaware of the snake, the rattler poised, standing tall. It rattled and then it struck.

But the family’s Chihuahua, 5-pound, mellow, blond, 1-year-old Zoey, threw herself in front of Booker, taking rattlesnake fangs to the head and face.

“She got in between Booker and the snake, and that’s when I heard her yipe,” Monty said, sitting in his living room Thursday, an almost-walking Booker on his lap.

“I just kept thinking about the baby,” said his wife, Denise. “If it would have struck the baby. ...”

But Zoey’s yelp brought Monty running to scoop up the baby.

“(Zoey) took the bite for him,” he said. “If I hadn’t been paying attention to her yipe telling me something was wrong, (Booker) would have been next.”

And for her efforts, Zoey earned a face the size of a grapefruit, a trip to the veterinarian’s office, antivenin and morphine shots and a scar that cuts vertically across her head. She almost lost an eye.

“They didn’t know if she was going to make it,” Monty said.

But she has earned hero status in the Long household.

“She knew she was a good girl,” Denise said. “She just pranced around after that.”

And now Zoey, and the Longs, keep a closer watch on Booker, and a closer lookout for snakes.

“Once (Zoey) could see (after the swelling went down),” she was following Booker around,” Denise said. “She had snake on her mind.”

Thursday afternoon, Denise kept Booker away from the birdbath, away from the rocks where the snake had lurked.

And Zoey romped in the grass with one of the Longs’ other three dogs.

“These little bitty dogs, they just don’t really get credit,” Denise said. “It’s usually the big dogs. ... Chihuahuas are protective, but she’s on the sweet side, too.”

Great story. That little dog was a BIG hero. I hope Def sees this, I think she likes  Chihuahuas.

Yes, Def has said that she has a Chihuahua. I have an American Rat Terrier which has Chihuahua in it's background. They are not only wonderful companions but brave little dogs. Many times they are more brave than the bigger dogs. My Buster has gone to the aid of my grandchildren a number of times. When they take a nap here he curls up next to them and watches out for them. Not only are they brave but they are quite smart also. He sleeps in my bed at night and lays where he can listen to my heart (I have a heart condition). One evening my heart started acting up while I was sleeping and he went to get my wife who was still up. He paced back and forth between us until my wife decided to wake me up to see what was going on. I got my nitro in time to take care of the situation because of it.

When my wife was bed ridden after knee surgery he "took care" of her also fetching things for her when I couldn't and let me know when she needed help.

no matter how the "Eye "of God" is always watching.His ways are mysterious for He has a plan already made for you and me and if something comes against his plan .He Has got a plan For that Too.. Petit Pompom saved my life He could not sand that i take morphine or any similar drug he would go hide away that was when i had a spine operatio 9years ago the morphine lasted 10 days when i realize that he was reacting to my reaction to the medication..so i quit the medication and got use to the pain the hard pain and got through it and when it hurts to much we use a little inflammatory but we are tough now ,,brothers and sisters we do can use to anything cause everything passe and the example of Christ is always there sweet Jesus my savior forever you see my little dog kept me alert so i could study with a clear mind the word Of My God GLORY..Def hello Tina miss you..Pastor Roger remember the angels of the Lord encamp around His chosen ones..Good night every body please believe that God our Father really really loves all of us,in Jesus.Def

thank you Jesus.

Yes,  Thank you, Jesus!

your as quick as the twinkle of a eye.. ::) ;)

Fast computer and internet link.   :D :D

Some wonderful dogs....yes, definitely heroes!

Brothers and Sisters,

This is a good reason why many people love dogs, including me. A good dog, regardless of size, will give their lives for their family. Even the ones that are treated badly many times love unconditionally. There are many reasons why I could never mistreat a dog, but their unconditional love is the biggest one.

Pastor Roger, thanks for sharing this nice story with us. Things like this should be in the news more just to help us get our minds off of all the bad things. We know that GOD can do whatever HE wishes in heaven and on earth, and every living thing belongs to HIM as part of HIS Creation. We obviously can't say for sure, but this little dog could have easily been a tool being used by GOD that day. Regardless, there are many things we should be thanking GOD for every day. It was GOD'S Will that this baby live, and it doesn't matter what method GOD used to protect this baby. Every good thing comes from GOD.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Amen! Unfortunately this is true. This sort of news would be more common place if all of those bad things were not so common and those would not be so common if more people that claim to be Christians would take a proper stand against them.

Wouldn't it be great if one station (or more) would make a good news only show....even if it was only 10 or 15 minutes long....would be great to hear something different.

Hello Debp,

I'm remembering back to how things were when I was growing up. The news media covered family gatherings, retirements, birthday parties of the young and the old, local sports, school functions, graduations, awards, and all kinds of positive things that were associated with their viewers and the viewers' families. Of course, those were also the times when nothing dirty was aired in the newspaper, the radio, or television. The people owning the various media outlets didn't allow any of that stuff, regardless of what networks or the big boys wanted.

Now, you can guess how things have changed just about everywhere. Now, it's dope dealers, sex, gutter language, and you name it. 

Sister, I would love to have a completely positive, clean, and family friendly ANYTHING. I think that many people would support something like this, and I have no doubt that it would make money. By the way, the advertising would also need to be clean and family friendly. I think it would be a raving success in just about any media format. In reality, we're really talking about just a few things here and there that shut out the stench of this world.

Love In Christ,
Tom

1 Corinthians 2:2-5 NASB  For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.

When I was growing up in the 1950s and even the early 60s, it was a breath of fresh air.  I didn't watch the news as a child, but it was totally safe for us to walk to school by ourselves.  I even took the bus to downtown by myself to go to the 5 and 10 cent store (Woolworths)....and went to the first Beatle movie by myself, too.  :)

For clean publications, try Reiman Publishing.  I get their Birds and Bloom.....they also have a magazine called Reminisce that some like (about the good old days).  They have several magazines....all clean and family oriented.

 ;)

YES - I remember Woolworths and all kinds of other stores that are probably out of business now. I also remember the old-fashioned drug stores with the real soda fountain counters. In fact, we had a creamery in town that made ice cream and other dairy products when I was growing up. The creamery had a giant, old-fashioned soda fountain and ice cream store that was great. Everything was great and fresh.

We also had an A & W Root Beer place here that served wonderful root beer in frosted glasses. Things like this were a real treat because we really didn't have much money. Things were really pretty simple, and we didn't know that we were poor, regardless of how many times that mom and dad said they didn't have the money to do various things.

AND, I certainly remember how safe things were for children. Nearly every adult in town watched over the children, and having a child molester loose was almost unheard of. Many things were simply taboo, and whole neighborhoods worked together on various kinds of problems. It really didn't matter if the people in the neighborhoods had money or not - they cared. NOW, it seems there has to be a crime wave before people will get involved as a volunteer of any kind. Back then, there were volunteers for just about everything in nearly every home. I realize that I'm biased, but I'll go ahead and say that it was definitely a better time.

One could write a book about the contrast of morals, values, and ethics then as compared to now. I realize that many young people wouldn't take my word for this without evidence of some sort. That kind of evidence is easily available for anyone who wants to look. The differences aren't pretty, and things appear to be getting worse and worse every day. I've said this before, but I want to say it again - the duties of Christians remain the same until JESUS comes to take us home.

Love In Christ,
Tom