TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas -- We've always referred to dogs as "man's best friend," but one woman’s story brought that saying to another level.
- Woman adopts dog from Austin Pets Alive
- Dog saves woman from rattlesnake
- Dog rewarded with Whataburger
For Madeline Mansfield, taking care of animals is second nature.
“I’m pretty much the Jack Of All Trades. We make sure the horses get fed, get taken care of, keep horses in stalls and I ride horses,” she said.
Mansfield also tends to donkeys and ponies. But, even with plenty of company, Mansfield still felt she had so much more love to give. She met a dog named Mr. Jones at Austin Pets Alive and fell in love.
"The barn loves him; he loves where we’re at. He’s a unique dog I never knew my life would benefit from." -- Madeline Mansfield, dog owner.
Since she took Mr. Jones home, her life became richer. They travel everywhere together. He loves car rides, toys, treats and little adventures at the Scissortail Hill Equestrian Center’s barn.
But one particular adventure nearly took a turn for the worst.
“I was horse sitting for somebody else and I was rushing through the day. It was just one simple mistake that I wasn’t aware of my surroundings. I heard a rattle, so it was a rattlesnake,” said Mansfield.
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Before Mansfield made a move, Mr. Jones came to the rescue.
“By the time I took one step over, he immediately grabbed [the snake] from right behind me. It didn’t have time to retract or jaw. It rattled once and I think it’s because I scared it as much as it scared me. So, Jones took that as a signal to grab it and to run,” she said.
But no hero wins a battle unscathed. The rattlesnake bit Mr. Jones in the neck.
“I mean, even with humans, when a rattlesnake bites, when a venomous snake bites, time is of the essence,” Mansfield said.
She rushed him to the vet for treatment. Days later, Mr. Jones was back on his paws.
“He never skipped a beat which was mind blowing. He had a couple of ouchie (sic) days but, truthfully, he’s been in bed and by my side all the time,” said Mansfield.
Mr. Jones is on his way to full recovery. Mansfield said, because of his heroic deeds, she rewarded him with a Whataburger. Once he's done with his medications, he's getting a steak.
For more information on how to identify snakes, visit the Austin Reptile Service website.