TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - When a venomous Eastern diamondback rattlesnake appeared in the backyard of a 7-year-old Florida girl, her German shepherd came to her rescue, refusing to back down despite multiple snakebites.

Tampa media is reporting that Molly DeLuca was playing Wednesday with her 2-year-old shepherd, named Haus, when the snake showed up. Haus jumped between them and was bitten three times, suffering damage to his kidneys. The dog has been getting antivenin since then and should recover.

The girl's mother, Donya, says Molly and Haus are inseparable, so she's not surprised he would risk his life to save her.

Donations to a GoFundMe account to help pay the vet bills quickly topped the family's goal of $15,000 on Friday.