Dogs are known as man’s best friend, and they’ve earned that title for a reason. They make us smile and they protect us when we need it. Last week, one Arizona golden retriever took his title seriously when he protected his mom while out taking a walk.

Paula Godwin says she was taking her two dogs on a walk when she noticed something move along the side of the path. When she looked down, she saw a large rattlesnake curled up by her feet. It didn’t take long before her faithful companion jumped in to protect her.

Apparently Paula had unknowingly stepped too close to the snake and it was prepared to attack. Before the snake could bite her though, Todd moved in front of his mom to protect her. The snake lunged at Todd and bit him on the face.

Immediately Todd’s face started to swell and he cried out in pain. Paula scooped him up and ran him to the nearest animal hospital. Thankfully, the brave pup was seen within minutes and was able to be treated quickly for the bite.

Although the event was scary, Paula says she is grateful to her loyal protector. After 12 hours at the animal hospital, Todd was allowed to come back home. The vet prescribed him lots of rest and cuddles, to which Paula was happy to oblige.

Todd is now up and back to normal, although he has a wound on the side of his face and quite a bit of swelling still. He even earned himself a new shirt made special just for him. Paula says he deserves the love and attention he’s been getting.

People all over the world have applauded Todd for his bravery and have sent him cards to remind him what a hero he is. A GoFundMe page was even created in his honor to collect donations to help other families pay for vet treatments for their heroic pets.

Todd certainly sets the standard for what it means to be a good boy. Be sure to share his heroic story with your family and friends. Todd is a brave reminder of just how wonderful and amazing dogs really are.