This Dog Named Marley Saved His Owner From A Rattlesnake And Got Bitten Twice But Survived
El Cajon, California. 7-year-old Marley is a Labrador retriever that has spent his entire life alongside his 18-year-old owner Alex Loredo.
Alex got Marley when he was 11, and he was a gift to help him overcome his health issues. Within a few months of playing with Marley and going on walks, Alex’s health issues disappeared.
Marley certainly helped improve Alex’s life, but now he can be credited with literally saving Alex’s life as well.
Alex was at home watching TV one day and finishing some laundry when he walked outside with Marley and heard a frightening sound.
A rattlesnake was coiled right there, shaking its tail rapidly, reading to strike out at Alex.
GoFundMe; pictured above is Marley
Marley wasted no time putting himself between his owner and danger. The snake lunged at Marley, who then tried to get a hold of it.
Unfortunately, in the process, Marley got bitten by the rattlesnake not once, but twice. The snake bit Marley on his neck and also on his tongue.
Alex hurried to get Marley inside of his house and out of the snake’s path, but Marley was already showing signs of suffering.
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He was crying and bleeding, so Alex rushed into action. He packed Marley into the car and drove to the veterinarian that was closest to them.
Upon arrival, the clinic informed him that they couldn’t successfully treat Marley because they didn’t have the vaccine needed to help fight that rattlesnake’s poison that was now wreaking havoc on his body.
Alex had no choice but to get Marley to another hospital that was now a 25-minute drive from where they were.
“Marley’s face started to swell up and he began to start having breathing complications. Blood also began to start pouring from his mouth,” Alex recalled.
“I was so scared and tried to keep my cool and think fast because time was not on our side.”
Alex had already placed a call to the next hospital to let him know he was on the way, and they were there to rush to Marley’s aid when they got there.
Alex anxiously awaited any news while the veterinary team worked to save Marley’s life. At one point, Alex was told Marley most likely would not make it.
Miraculously, Marley pulled through, but Alex’s vet bills are totaling over $9,000. Alex used his entire savings to help cover the costs, but he still is in debt to the vet and Marley will need continued treatment for the nerve damage he has to his jaw and tongue.
This sweet boy saved his owner’s life at the cost of risking his own, and now Alex is calling Marley a hero for what he so selflessly did.
“Marley means the world to me,” Alex wrote on a GoFundMe page. “He is not only is he my best friend, he is the brave hero that saved my life from a rattlesnake. If it wasn’t for him I don’t know if I would have the opportunity to be here today.”
If you would like to donate to help Alex cover Marley’s medical bills, you can do so here.
More About:Animals
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