Dog suddenly bit his owner and clung to his leg during a walk by the lake — when he looked back, he realized it was a life-saving act

A dog owner experienced a whirlwind of emotions during a regular walk at the lake with his pet. While the man was used to his dog, Ruger, playfully biting him, he never expected him to become aggressive all of a sudden. Ruger attacked his leg and left a deep cut, while he wondered what was wrong with him. When he turned back to scold him, the dog owner witnessed a shocking sight and felt a deep gratitude for his guardian dog. 

In a viral Facebook post shared by Quick & Tasty Recipes, the owner acknowledged his pet dog’s life-saving act in a heartwarming note. “Well, Ruger saved me a hospital trip, maybe even my life,” he penned. The dog owner recalled walking by the lake when his furry pal began “nipping” at him. Soon, he found Ruger clawing his leg, which caused a bleeding injury. “I turned to scold him, and he ran around me like trying to avoid me,” he said. When he turned around to grab hold of him, the owner could not believe his eyes. Ruger was fighting off a copperhead snake, backed against a wooden log. 

It dawned on him that his loyal dog was actually protecting him from the viper. Ruger confronted the snake until the dog owner fetched a stick to assist him. Realizing his dog’s selfless, life-saving feat, tears poured out of his eyes. “I sat down with him, embracing him tightly. Without a doubt, he's my guardian,” he revealed. The owner had no qualms about Ruger earning the title of the “best dog ever.” The note added, “Rather have this cut than the bite from that copperhead any day.” The post concluded with a collage of the scratch marks on his leg, courtesy of Ruger, and the star of the show himself sitting in the car. 

The post was liked by 3,300 people, while hundreds of others ensured Ruger knew how special a boy he was. “Thankful that our protectors always seem to be on patrol,” wrote a viewer, @LisaRhodes. While @PamelaHerrin exclaimed, “Man’s best friend indeed!” “What a little hero, dogs are the best,” chimed another person (@AllyPerkins). Dogs are hailed for their distinguished loyalty towards their human owners. It is unlike any other pet, and studies suggest that this is because dogs have the ability to feel empathy for humans. 

A 2008 study on animal behavior published in the journal The Royal Society found a lingering connection between empathy and “contagious yawning.” It is a phenomenon when someone yawns in the room, and it instantly makes another person yawn. Well, dogs can be that 'another person', too. Annika Huber, a doctoral student at Switzerland’s University of Bern Veterinary Public Health Institute studying dog behavior, suggests that empathy was a capability only reserved for humans, per CNN. Now, it is suspected that even dogs are motivated by human-like emotions that allow them to empathize with us and often save their owners' lives.