In Tucson, Arizona, special training sessions are held to protect dogs from poisonous snakes. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Associated Press.
Ripley, a two-year-old blue heeler mix with a strong prey drive, curiously approached Brian, a large western diamondback rattlesnake, until she got a quick zap on the neck meant to simulate a venomous viper's bite. Brian was harmless because his venom glands had been removed years ago.
Dog trainer J.J. Belcher of Sublime Canine in Tucson said the single shock delivered from an electronic training collar should be sufficient to keep Ripley away from venomous snakes. Belcher said Ripley can return in a year for a free training session to ensure the lesson stuck.
Ripley's owners, Amber Schneider and Wendy Timm, said they opted for the training because the dog regularly hunts small animals. "We have an acre of natural desert and respect all the snakes, but she's very curious about wildlife," said Timm. "We are doing this because we want to keep our dog safe."
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals says as many as 150,000 dogs are bitten by venomous snakes each year in the United States. Emergency veterinarian Dr. Sarah Carotenuto at the Veterinary Specialty Center of Tucson says they treat four to six dogs daily for rattlesnake bites.
Training programs to protect canines from poisonous snakes are offered around the U.S., especially in Western deserts where western diamondbacks live. These snakes can reach over 5 feet long (1.5 meters) and strike in less than a second when threatened. Classes are also available from Illinois to Florida to guard against eastern diamondbacks and other venomous snakes.
Carotenuto said the snakebite survival rate for pets is 94% with quick treatment, which can cost thousands of dollars depending on antivenom and hospitalization. "Do bring us your dog quickly, but please don't bring us the snake!" emphasized Carotenuto. Some people have brought in the guilty snake, but it's unnecessary to identify the exact species before administering antivenom effective against all kinds of rattlers.