At the end of May, a heroic Yorkshire Terrier named Spike gave his life to protect his owner from danger. The 10-year-old dog faced a deadly cobra that had entered the garden of their South African home, sacrificing his life in the process.
The incident occurred while Louise Grobler, Spike’s owner, was on a phone call, unaware of the cobra’s approach. Spike noticed the snake and sprang into action, biting and killing it before it could harm Louise.
Sadly, the brave dog’s encounter with the snake proved fatal, as he was bitten by the cobra’s venomous fangs and died just thirty minutes later.
Reflecting on the tragic event, Louise recounted, “Spike was a hero. By taking on the poisonous snake, he saved my life. I was so close to the snake that I’m certain it would have bitten me if not for Spike’s intervention.”
She added that as soon as she realized what was happening, she sought help from a neighbor, but by then, Spike had already vanquished the cobra.
Tragically, the family soon faced another loss. Their other dog, Prinses, also died following a snakebite. Prinses had become part of the family after being adopted a few months earlier, having initially been intended to stay only two weeks.
Louise shared that they grew too fond of her to let her go, and she remained with them, even giving birth to puppies who were later placed in a dog sanctuary.
The day after their deaths, Louise and her family buried Spike and Prinses in separate but nearby graves in their front garden. The painful loss was deeply felt, especially by Louise’s daughter, Mariska, who mourned them with a heavy heart.
Spike and Prinses will always hold a special place in the family’s memory, particularly Spike’s selfless act of bravery, which Louise will carry with her forever.
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