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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