Moogan is a hero. He saved a human volunteer from a dangerous encounter with a rattlesnake last month. And even though it would have been an absolutely awesome act of bravery on any senior dog’s part, what makes it even more special is Moogan is blind.
Volunteer Dan Fishbein had been on a walk with Moogan, doing the usual with him and letting the dog smell the flowers and feel out his surroundings. Dan always made sure the blind pup didn’t get into anything dangerous. And while making sure his canine pal was safe, Dan didn’t notice the rattlesnake directly in front of him. In Dan’s defense, the rattlesnake was pretty well camouflaged, but he would have walked right onto the reptile. It was at that moment, Moogan pulled Fishbein sharply to the right, drawing the man’s attention to the snake he was about to step on!
Check out the video:
https://www.facebook.com/bestfriendsanimalsociety/videos/483921374644107
Years ago, when Moogan arrived at Utah’s Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, he had been young pup and came from a nearby shelter because he had been too energetic and needed more space. Once at the Sanctuary, he had a huge yard to explore and run, lots of toys to play with and many areas to take long walks through the winding trails of Angel Canyon.
It had been a total surprise when Moogan was diagnosed as nearly blind. It was as if his eyes had stopped working. There had been no definitive reason that veterinarians could ever find; he was put on eye drops to slow the progression, but eventually Moogan lost his eyesight, became a bit more apprehensive around strangers, but still loved to play and go for long walks.
His yard is littered with toys, but he always knows where to find the one he wants, and he can find and bring back a thrown toy without a problem. He never hesitates to dive into the deep end of the pool in summertime. Moogan even has pretty strong opinions about the landscaping of his yard, uprooting bushes and rearranging weeds as caregivers pull them out.
Rattlesnakes are no strangers to Utah wildlife and are often found hiding under rocks and in areas where they hunt for their prey. If bitten by a rattlesnake, treatment with antivenoms are the protocol and if done in a timely manner, nearly all people recover.
Since Moogan’s heroics, the staff and volunteers at the Sanctuary have been rewarding him with more treats and of course hugs.
Why not come and meet this awesome canine hero? Every dog deserves his own home. Who knows? You could meet your own guardian angel as Dan calls him.
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