Dog attacks copperhead snake slithering near its toddler

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A Tennessee family’s dog is being hailed a hero after saving a toddler from being bitten by a copperhead snake.

Shiloh's split-second action most likely saved the life of its 18-month-old, Bryson Holloway.

Last week, the family they were sitting on their porch when they saw the Australian shepherd run toward the toddler as if he were going to attack. But the dog was actually springing into action to protect Bryson from a copperhead snake that had slithered near the boy's feet.

The snake bit Shiloh on his jaw, making his neck swell so much his collar had to be removed.

“Shiloh was laying over there and he jumped up all of a sudden and ran towards the baby for just a moment, I had that brief flash of, ‘Oh my god, he’s going after the baby,’ by the way he charged towards him," explained Shiloh’s owner, Bryan Holloway. "Couldn’t really see him, but he grabbed something, jumped back and kind of jumped straight up in the air and yelped a little bit… And then it dawned on me that he literally grabbed that snake from the feet near the baby's foot."

The Holloway’s gave Shiloh some Benadryl and amoxicillin before rushing him to the vet.  Now, he is on the mend and being treated like the hero he is.

"Such a little body. I honestly don't think he would be here, I really don't think we could have made it to the hospital.  Best case scenario would have been a 50/50 fighting chance,” Bryson’s mom, Alicia Holloway said.