Adopting a dog can be one of the most rewarding — and nerve-wracking — times in a pet owner’s life. You’re giving an animal in need a second chance, but you also have to worry about whether or not it will be able to adjust to life in your home.

When one woman noticed her adopted pet Dobermann, Kahn, was acting strange towards her little girl, it became an obvious concern. But when the new dog later grabbed her child by his mouth, things took a dramatic turn.

Catherine Svilicic of Australia knew the risks when she decided to adopt a large dog. She’d heard horror stories about rescues who have trouble readjusting to life outside the cage, but she thought Khan was different.

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Even though Catherine and her husband knew Khan came from an abusive home prior to adopting him, they still had no qualms about introducing him to their 17-month-old daughter, Charlotte.

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Days after Khan’s adoption, young Charlotte was playing with the dog in the family garden. That was when Catherine noticed something that would frighten any pet owner — especially those with kids.

Catherine couldn’t believe what she was seeing: Khan was snarling and pushing Charlotte around. It was every parent’s worst nightmare, and for Charlotte, it must have been terrifying.

Then, before Catherine could react, the large Dobermann grabbed the toddler by the diaper and tossed her across the yard like a rag doll! Catherine raced toward her baby. What on earth was going on?

It was like her loving dog, usually so gentle with the little girl, totally transformed. Catherine started running toward Charlotte when she saw something that made her take pause…

Her 17-month-old daughter was pointing at a suspicious object slipping away into the grass. She suddenly realized what made Khan act out so aggressively.

In the yard was a large king brown snake, one of the most venomous in Australia. Catherine realized Khan wasn’t trying to harm little Charlotte; rather, he was merely trying to get her to safety — fast.

The dog saved Charlotte by flinging her out of harm’s way. Unfortunately, that meant that Khan was the snake’s new target.

There was no time to waste; Catherine had the sudden realization that Khan was in serious danger. She made sure that her daughter would be okay before she turned her attention back to the dog.

Khan might have saved Charlotte, but he’d been bitten on his paw by the snake and he collapsed to the ground. Catherine was in shock.

But she couldn’t give up on the dog, he was family, and he had just saved her baby’s life without hesitation. She knew that she had to take action if the dog was going to survive.

Catherine frantically rushed Khan to a nearby emergency veterinary clinic. Could he receive an anti-venom injection before it was too late? All Catherine could do was move as quickly as possible…

Khan was in bad shape. He had a rough first night at the clinic, but thankfully, he managed to pull through. The staff was amazed to see that he even had an appetite when he woke up the next morning!

He still needed to heal from his wound, but ultimately, he would be okay. It was the best news Catherine could have hoped for. She was overjoyed that her family’s canine hero was going to pull through.

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Now, years later, Catherine is just as thankful that she chose to adopt Khan and rescue him from his abusive past. It really is true what they say: adopt, don’t shop. You’re not just buying a pet—you’re welcoming a new member to your family!

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When Catherine adopted Khan, she had no idea he would pay back her family for their kindness. The fact that he went above and beyond and put his life on the line for his little sister was astounding.

Khan went on to make a full recovery at the veterinary clinic and was sent back to live with his loving family just a few short days later. Not every dog is like Khan, and the DeLuca family learned this in a recent scare of their own…

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After Adam and Donya DeLuca adopted a two-year-old German shepherd named Haus from a shelter in Tampa, Florida, they quickly got much more than they bargained for.

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As Donya told Today, “He just bonded with all of us so quickly, it was like he was always part of our home.” Even the neighbors loved Haus. In all respects, he was the perfect family dog.

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One day, seven-year-old Molly was gathering toys in the backyard with Haus by her side. Her grandmother watched from the doorway of the screened-in pool. That’s when she saw Haus act in a way that would forever change the family’s perception of him.

Haus was acting suspiciously, and it was terrifying. “He kept jumping back and then forward,” Donya demonstrated for WFLA. “And he did it three times.” Of course, Donya’s mother, watching from a distance, feared the worst. A young German shepherd, new to the family, moving aggressively around a little girl? That was a recipe for disaster.

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The grandmother’s story, as relayed by Donya to various news outlets, was that she “didn’t even realize what he [Haus] was staring at—but then all of a sudden there was all of this blood” covering the dog. In a panic, the grandmother called Donya, who could hear Molly crying in the background. What happened? Did Haus viciously attack Molly?



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The truth, however, was quite surprising. As they picked up toys on the far side of the yard, Molly and Haus had come face-to-face with a deadly Eastern diamondback rattlesnake. Coiled and angry, it struck at Molly—only to have Haus jump in the way instead. Tragically, his act of bravery came with an astronomical cost…

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“He [had] instantly positioned himself between the snake and Molly,” Donya said. He could have run, but Haus’s protective instincts had him stand his ground, which allowed Molly to retreat to safety. With every bite, Haus suffered more and more. Afterwards, he was a mess.

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After the attack, the poor pup could barely walk. He limped, drooled, and his head hung down, unable to move. He struggled to breathe and his leg hemorrhaged blood. If a 68-pound German shepherd suffered in that way, can you imagine what those bites would have done to little Molly?

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Donya rushed home and immediately loaded Haus into the family car and sped to a veterinarian emergency care facility. With snake venom in his system, the brave pooch didn’t have much time…



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“What [a rattlesnake bite] can do is a lot of bad things,” veterinarian Danielle Pollio said. “It can cause problems with clotting, so they can bleed into the wound uncontrollably.” The Eastern Diamondback is the most venomous snake in all North America, and dogs who are bitten once have a mortality rate as high as 30 percent. Haus had been bitten three times.

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Within minutes of the attack, Haus’s symptoms had already accelerated exponentially. When he reached the medical facilities, doctors gave him nine vials of antivenin. But they weren’t as effective as they needed to be to save the pooch’s life…

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Instead of injecting Haus with individual vials, doctors set him up with an IV drip of antivenin and administered painkillers. He received antivenin four times every day for four straight days. A typical treatment might only see one to two doses. Making matters worse, saving Haus was creating another problem that the DeLuca family couldn’t ignore…



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If Haus was going to live, he would need some major intensive care—and that lead to astronomical medical bills that the DeLucas simply couldn’t afford. How could they pay to keep their beloved dog—and their daughter’s hero—alive?

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That’s when a woman named Cherissa Vandergriff, whose relation to the DeLucas was unclear, stepped in. She set up a GoFundMe page for the family as a way to crowdfund all of the necessary medical payments for Haus’s care. In the plea for assistance, Cherissa wrote, “The vet treatment has been extremely expensive…”

Cherissa continued: “He’s been given multiple vials of anti-venom. The vet bills are already at $10,000 and the treatment is not finished. His vitals are strong, his organs are functioning, and if they can afford enough anti-venom, he will recover with no ill-effects.” Would this be enough to save Haus?

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Soon, donations were rolling in! In a matter of days, the family raised $51,329, far exceeding their $28,000 goal, and they had to actually shut down people’s ability to donate! Haus’s story had inspired nearly 2,000 people to contribute money!



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Despite the pup’s severe wounds, doctors expected him to make a full recovery, which shocked Donya. “It’s semi-miraculous, his condition,” she said. “What keeps me going is how he still flicks his tail every time he sees me come into his kennel, even though I know he’s hurting.” That’s a dog who loved his family!

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In the end, Haus received some great news. “We hope that Haus will get to go home today,” said his veterinarian, Jennifer Holm, on the May 18, 2016, episode of Good Morning America. “We are doing a couple more checks on him early this afternoon, and fingers crossed, we hope that he will get to go home either today or tomorrow.”



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When the LaDuca family adopted Haus, they likely expected they’d be gaining a best friend for the family. What they didn’t realize was that they’d be gaining a best friend who would save their children’s lives. Haus was a hero with four paws!

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