Talk about love for the family. In a fight to the death, a doberman stood his ground killing four cobras that could have attacked his owner, Dibakar Raita's family. The family, which lives in Sebekapur village of Gajapati district, 400 kms from Bhubaneswar, is still reeling from the shock of the event.

“I’m shocked. He has made the supreme sacrifice for me and my family. I will remember him till our death. I pray God - May his soul rest in peace,” said an emotionally overpowered Dibakar to newspersons.

alldogbreeds/ Representation image

The snakes have been identified as mountains cobras. The region has seen many of the reptiles' kind, mainly during the monsoon when the rains fill their nests with water.

On Monday evening, the four snakes were trying to get into the family's house when they were challenged by the Doberman who was guarding the entrance gate. The dog fought the snakes that were trying to get to drier ground. Onlookers say that the fight went on for quite a while and much blood was shed during the fight.

BCCL/Representation image

The dog did not stop until it had killed each of the four snakes, stopping them from harming the human family. Minutes after the fight, the dog collapsed from the poison in its blood from where the snakes had bit.

The villagers laid floral wreaths on the body of the slain dog and held a funeral procession before burying it.