Man saved from snake by dog

CLARKSVILLE, TENN. — During a routine stroll on a
friend’s farmland off Peachers Mill Road, a 70-year-old man, Darrell Layne, found
himself face-to-face with a copperhead snake. Luckily, he had a fellow veteran with him: Onex, a black Labrador not afraid of a fight.



 Onex had served in the Army in the Middle East before landing in Clarksville in November. He was trained in Iraq  to sniff ordnance
and was a rescue dog too.



“I was very lucky to get him,” Layne said. “It wasn’t your normal adoption.”



 When Onex saw the snake threatening Layne, he crouched forward
growling, which diverted the snake’s attention. But now the attention
was on Onex, and the snake bit the dog twice on the face.



That gave Layne the opportunity to grab a fencepost and kill the snake.



Onex
was in bad shape though. Layne had to rush him to the veterinarian,
where the dog was treated for two days with fluids and anti-venom.



 The dog’s head remains swollen from the bites, but a full recovery is
expected, Layne said. “Dogs can be the best partner you have, and
unconditional love describes Onex,” he said. “People need to take care
of their pets like they would their best friend.”



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