Bryson, a toddler, loved his dog Shiloh. Shiloh was an Australian Shepherd and there was an instant connection between them since day one. The two were almost inseparable. Shiloh was Bryson’s friend and cuddle buddy. One day, Bryson found himself in some real trouble when a deadly cooper head snake slowly crept towards Bryson with the full intention of biting him.
Strange Behavior
Bryson was playing outside with Shiloh one sunny day. The dog’s behavior changed and he was acting very strange. Suddenly, Shiloh jumped towards the toddler aggressively.
Man’s Best Friend
Bryson lived in Sevier County, Tennessee with his mom, Alicia, and Bryan his dad. He also had two older siblings. The kids loved their dog, Shiloh, but Bryson had a special connection with him.
Special Bond
Bryson’s father describes the bond between Shiloh and his son as extremely special. “They just do everything together. As much as he loves everybody else, those two, the baby and that dog, have a bond,” he said.
The Perfect Dog
The Holloways added Shiloh to the family when they adopted him as a young puppy. He was a perfect fit since the first day he was brought home.
Great Guard Dog
Ever since Shiloh came to live with the Holloways, he has been a great guard dog. “He’s a very loving, affectionate dog. He will not let anything happen to those boys,” Alicia said.
Game of Fetch
One summer day in 2016, Bryson was playing his favorite game, fetch, with Shiloh. They were outside having a great time when Shiloh’s behavior turned strange and aggressive.
Sudden Leap
As Alicia and Bryan relaxed in the sun watching their son play with the dog, they suddenly became worried when they saw Shiloh lunge towards the baby.
Terrified
Bryson’s parents were terrified. They had no idea what was happening and feared for their baby. “Shiloh jumped up and took off after him. He lunged right towards the baby at the baby’s feet, and when he did he kind of jerked back,” Bryan explained.
Parental Instincts
The first reaction Bryan had was to grab his baby to safety. It was Alicia who came up with an explanation for what had just happened.
Logical Reason
Alicia thought that the dog had seen a bug and became frightened. “I said, ‘That dog is the biggest baby in the world.’ He like flips out over those big beetles. I said, ‘It’s probably just a beetle.’”
The Real Reason
While Alicia’s reason was logical, she was completely wrong. It turns out there was a dangerous copperhead snake slithering through the grass where Bryson was playing. The dog had scared it away from the baby.
Copperhead Snakes
Copperhead snakes are one of the most dangerous snakes in the world. Their venom is so poisonous that they can kill people with one bite, especially young toddlers.
Shiloh the Protector
Scared, Alicia and Bryan took their son inside to safety. It was then that they realized why Shiloh had jumped towards Bryson. He was protecting him from the snake.
Wounded
When Shiloh jumped towards the snake, he received a nasty bite from the copperhead. “Turning his head to the side and shaking his head and you could tell he’d been hurt,” Bryan recalled.
Swelling
Shiloh’s head and neck started to swell from the venom. Soon, the family had to remove the collar to keep it from choking the dog. “As furry as he is, and he has so much fur around his neck, you could visibly see the swelling,” Bryan said.
Visit to the Vet
Bryan and Alicia took Shiloh to the vet immediately after they noticed the swelling. Luckily, the vet was able to help him with antibiotics and gave the family confidence that he would make a full recovery.
Close Call
Bryson had an extremely close call with death. If it hadn’t been for Shiloh, the snake may have bit him and killed him. A human weighing only 24 pounds could not have survived the venom.
50/50 Chance
“I honestly don’t think he would be here. I really don’t think we could have made it to the hospital. Even if we did, the best-case scenario would have been a 50/50 fighting chance,” Bryson’s parents said.
Healing Puppy
Luckily, Shiloh was able to handle the venom long enough to get to the vet. Now that he is back home and recovering, the family is spoiling him with treats and belly rubs.
Thankful for Shiloh
Alicia said, “We give God the glory in everything. We know that He used that dog, that wonderful dog, to protect him, and we’re thankful every day for him now.” Shiloh will forever be appreciated and loved by this family.