Heroic Family Dog Saves A Small Child’s Life In The Nick Of Time – See The Touching Photos
For centuries, dogs have been cherished as loyal protectors and companions, rightfully earning the title of "man's best friend." While most dogs show their protective side by barking at strangers or chasing off the neighborhood cat, one German Shepherd named Haus proved that some dogs take that role far more seriously.
When Haus joined his new family, no one could have predicted that within just a few months, he would perform an extraordinary act of bravery to protect their seven-year-old daughter. Read on to discover the incredible story of Haus—the courageous, tail-wagging hero.
Haus Was A Rescue Pup
In 2016, Donya Deluca of Tampa, Florida, decided to adopt a two-year-old German Shepherd named Haus from Heidi's Legacy Dog Rescue. When she brought him home, her husband Adam wasn't so sure.
"We had just lost our family dog of 13 years," Donya told Today. “Adam gave me this look, like, 'Are you really ready for this?’ But I just couldn’t pass up the opportunity to give Haus a new home.”
"Man's Best Friend" Was A Great Description
Haus—whose name translates to "home" in German—quickly became a beloved part of the family. He formed an instant bond with Donya, her husband Adam, and their two children, seven-year-old Molly and four-year-old Joey.
"He connected with all of us right away," Donya recalled. “It felt like he was always meant to be part of our lives.” She described Haus as a “goofy, happy-go-lucky dog” who even managed to charm the neighbors.
But Haus Was More Than Just A Friend...
Haus was more than just a family dog—his natural German Shepherd instincts quickly surfaced, turning him into a vigilant guardian. "He's especially protective of the kids at night," Donya said. “He follows them everywhere and keeps a close eye on them.” The two-year-old pup instantly bonded with the DeLuca children, becoming both their playmate and protector.
At first, Donya and Adam saw Haus’s watchful nature as a sweet quirk. But they had no idea that same instinct would soon play a crucial role in saving one of their children’s lives.
The Unseen Danger
One afternoon, Molly was outside collecting toys with Haus faithfully by her side, while her grandmother kept an eye on them through the screen door. Suddenly, Haus began acting in an unusual and alarming way, which immediately caught her attention.
"He kept jumping back and then lunging forward," Donya later told WFLA. “He did it three times.” From her vantage point, Donya's mother grew increasingly concerned. With Haus still being relatively new to the family, she feared his strange behavior might be a sign of aggression.
But Haus Wasn't The Attacker
At first, no one fully grasped what was unfolding, Donya explained. "In the beginning, [Molly] and her grandma didn't even realize what he was reacting to," she said. “Then, suddenly, there was blood everywhere.”
Donya’s mother quickly called her, and through the phone, she could hear the kids crying in the background. It was devastating to find out that Haus had been bitten three times on his right front leg—by a snake.
How Their Dog Saved His New Family
While little Molly was exploring the backyard, she came face-to-face with a snake. The snake coiled, hissed, and struck--supposedly at Molly, but Haus had jumped in the way. "He instantly positioned himself between the snake and Molly," Donya said.
Haus had sacrificed his own safety to prevent the snake from reaching Molly or her grandmother. But the snake struck him three times. And with every bite, Haus became weaker and weaker.
Saving Molly's Hero
By the time Donya came home, Haus was barely hanging on. He could hardly walk or even limp. His head hung down, and he drooled excessively. Haus weighed 68 pounds, and the snake bites nearly immobilized him. Imagine what the bites could have done to little seven-year-old Molly.
Donya knew that they didn't have much time. She rushed her dog to BluePearl, Tampa's 24-hour veterinary clinic. At the time, the DeLuca family had no idea how much their dog had suffered.
The Attack Was No Ordinary Snake Bite
Haus endured an exceptionally venomous snake bite. Vets at BluePearl believed that an Eastern diamondback rattlesnake, one of North America's deadliest snakes, bit Haus. These bites can even be fatal to humans.
"[Rattlesnake bites] can cause problems with clotting, so they can bleed into the wound uncontrollably," said veterinarian Danielle Pollio. If a dog gets bitten by an Eastern diamondback, it has a 30% mortality rate. And Haus had been bitten three times.
How Haus' Life Hung By A Thread
When Haus arrived at the vet, his symptoms had worsened. He had so much venom in his system that vets immediately delivered nine vials of antivenin. But individual vials weren't enough.
Eventually, vets hooked Haus up to a constant IV drip of antivenin. To put this in perspective, most dogs receive only two doses for a snake bite. And yet, Haus still flicked his tail every time a DeLuca entered his kennel.
Haus's Survival Is A Miracle
Despite his critical condition, Haus somehow pulled through. Even his vets were surprised when he became stable a couple of days later. "It's semi-miraculous, his condition," said Donya. "I can tell that his mindset is to keep going; his personality is just tremendous like that."
Although Haus's red blood count and kidney function were still low, he didn't receive any permanent damage. However, the experience left the DeLuca family with some damage of their own.
The DeLuca Family Couldn't Afford The Treatment
Like any dog owners, the DeLuca family was willing to go to great lengths to save their pooch. But as the treatment continued, vet costs piled up. Soon, their bills reached thousands of dollars--a sum that the family couldn't possibly afford.
Donya and Adam were fully devoted to the dog who saved their daughter. But where would they get the money to save his life? With few other options, the family reached out to strangers for help.
Reaching Out For Help
On May 11th, 2016, Cherissa Vandergriff (whose relationship to the DeLuca's is unclear) set up a GoFundMe on behalf of Donya DeLuca. She titled it, "Help Save Haus (Rattlesnake Attack)" and set the goal amount for $28,000.
"The vet bills are already at $10,000, and the treatment is not finished," Cherissa explained. "His vitals are strong, his organs are functioning, and if they can afford enough anti-venom, he will recover with no ill-effects."
Haus' Story Spread
In the GoFundMe page, Cherissa chronicled Haus's story. "They're quite certain he was protecting Molly," she said, "because he did not back away, keeping himself between the snake and away from Molly." Internet users began sharing the story about the heroic dog.
"No doubt this sweet dog was brought to this family for a reason, and he risked his own life today defending Molly," Cherissa continued. "This family would never ask for help, but Haus is like family and they desperately want to save him."
Reaching--And Surpassing--Their Goal
In just five days, Haus's GoFundMe received $51,329 in donations--almost double the family's original goal. The page was shared over 7,500 times on Facebook and covered by several news outlets. The German Shepherd's story warmed the hearts of dog owners around the world.
Over 1,800 people donated to save Haus's life. With overwhelming support, the DeLuca family had to shut down the donation page to prevent more dog lovers from donating. It surpassed everyone's expectations.
The Impact On The DeLuca Family
As expected, the DeLuca family felt overwhelmed by all the donations. "Everyone's generosity is allowing him to live," she told Today, "and we're so touched and overwhelmed. I have people from Sweden—and I don't even know anyone in Sweden—reaching out and donating. It's crazy."
Donya also added that this experience set a good example for her kids. It proves "that there is good in the world and that when you're struggling, people will help you."
Haus Returns Home
On May 18th--about a week after the attack--Haus's vet gave the world a heartwarming update. "We hope that Haus will get to go home today," Dr. Jennifer Holm told Good Morning America. "We are doing a couple more checks on him early this afternoon, and--fingers crossed--we hope that he will get to go home either today or tomorrow."
By this time, thousands of people worldwide had become invested in Haus' story. His recovery came as a relief to all who supported him.
Haus After Heroism
After Haus returned home, the DeLuca family updated everyone who donated. They created the Facebook page Haus the Hero Dog, which displayed Haus looking happy in his autographed cone. He attended physical therapy to regain full use of his leg.
"Currently we are seeing a lot of tripping when he tries to trot," wrote the Facebook page, "and he cannot jump on our bed--his favorite place." By June, Haus was able to jump on the bed again, and acted "very playful" and "extremely loving."
The Extra Donations Didn't Go To Waste
Now that Haus returned to his family happy and healthy, the DeLuca's didn't need the thousands of dollars in donations. They sent the remains to Heidi's Legacy Rescue, where they first adopted Haus, along with other animal shelters.
On their GoFundMe page, the family linked donors to Heidi's Legacy Rescue, "so others can find their own Haus." They wanted to encourage future pet owners to adopt dogs from shelters.
The DeLucas' message
Using their international story, DeLuca family encouraged people to adopt adult dogs like Haus. "People always want to adopt a puppy, because it's a puppy," Donya said. "But adult dogs need homes too, and I hope my story will encourage people to go find their own Haus, who's just as deserving of a home as a puppy."
Haus has the benefit of looking as cute as a puppy and being loyal enough to save his family. He's a hero on four paws.
Haus Now, And His Growing Family
In May of 2017, the DeLuca family once again updated everyone on Haus's life through their Facebook page. They reported that Haus "is happy and healthy with very minimal lasting effects." He's no longer in the cone and playing as normal.
The DeLucas also adopted another German shepherd from Heidi's Legacy. Her name is Elke, and she had a troubled past. But now, she and Haus have become good friends. Both rescued dogs receive the happy life they deserve. We love happy endings!
