SASKATOON, Saskatchewan (CTV News) – A family cat in Australia is being billed as a “four-legged hero” after dying fighting a venomous snake that slid close to two young children.
The poignant story of short-haired cat Arthur was told in a Facebook post from Animal Emergency Service, which provides emergency veterinary care in Brisbane, the Gold Coast, and Sunshine Coast.
“Heroes come in all shapes and sizes,” said the group. “His family, understandably devastated, lovingly remembers him and is forever grateful that he saved the lives of the children.”
The cat playfully followed two young children into the family’s backyard when they were approached by an oriental brown snake, listed by Australian Geographic as one of the country’s top 10 highly venomous snakes. The outlet also said the species is known for its aggressiveness and agility.
“Arthur took action to protect his young family by killing the snake.” Unfortunately, Arthur received a deadly snake bite in the process, ”the group wrote in the post.
The post said that during the process of getting the kids out of the yard, no one saw the actual bite, but noted that “Arthur collapsed and recovered quickly as if nothing had happened not long after.”
In memory of Arthur, the hero with four legs. ♥ ️🐾🐈 Heroes come in all shapes and sizes! Arthur, a cute …
Posted by Dierenhulpdienst on Sunday 14 February 2021
Posted by Animal Emergency Service on Sunday, February 14, 2021, Animal Emergency Service explained that animals collapsing after a snake bite are common, but not a known fact to pet owners. A snake bite from an oriental brown snake can cause progressive paralysis and prevent the blood from clotting, causing victims to collapse.
The next morning, when the Arthur family collapsed again and were unable to get up, they rushed him to a hospital in the rural town of Tanawha, 90 kilometers north of Brisbane.
Unfortunately, Arthur’s symptoms were too severe to recover, the group said. “It was with the greatest of hearts that his owners had to leave Arthur after he got his angel wings.”
The staff of the Animal Relief Service was no stranger to Arthur and called him ‘our little hero’ who ‘always did evil’. He had “visited us before in an accident and was very much loved by our team.”
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