A homeowner in Phoenix was fortunate to have been outside in the backyard when his dog alerted on a western diamondback rattlesnake hidden in a planter near a purple toy.
The dog’s owner managed to keep the dog away from the toy—and the snake—and then called experts to come and deal with the venomous intruder.
Rattlesnake Solutions removed the slithery creature but not before taking a photo and sharing it on Facebook to test everyone’s spotting ability.
Some didn’t do so well.
“Oh my gosh, I’d be bad and be bitten because I truly don’t see it, even after reading all the comments,” one commenter wrote.
“Very well hidden,” wrote another.
“I would have gotten bit cause I don’t see it,” wrote yet another.
In its solution post, Rattlesnake Solutions wrote, “This Western Diamondback Rattlesnake was discovered by the homeowners dog, but thankfully they were outside and noticed it before the dog went for this toy.
“Rattlesnake bites to dogs most often occur when they are let out in the early morning or just before bed to go to the bathroom. Not as a surprise, but when the dog finds a rattlesnake and then goes into investigate or attack it [sic].
“Something as simple as accompanying your dog outside, along with rattlesnake aversion training, can make a rattlesnake bite much less likely.”
“Close call!!!!” one commenter wrote. “Thank God the dog didn’t go for the ball.”