A loyal dog has tragically passed away from snake bites after he jumped in front of the venomous animal in order to protect his human siblings.

As father Gary Richardson from Sumter County revealed, 8-month-old Zeus the pit bull was playing with his sons, Orion and Oriley, in the backyard when a coral snake suddenly approached their Florida home.

While the boys didn’t notice the highly-venomous reptile, Zeus did. As the snake came close to them, the dog launched an attack but, unfortunately, got bit in the process.

Following four bites, the family rushed Zeus to Ocala Veterinary Hospital where he was administered with an anti-venom.

Sadly, however, the pup never recovered from critical condition and passed away on the following day.

“All of a sudden, he started attacking the snake which was close to my son and shaking it around, he was bit four times,” Gary said in an interview with Fox 35 Orlando, claiming that Zeus was “the most loyal dog I know of.”

“I knew when he first came in that something was wrong and it was very traumatic because I knew he was dying.”

“They got him stable enough for me to FaceTime after about an hour and a half which was spectacular because Gary and the kids wanted to speak with him,” mother Georgina added.

“He kept falling asleep on FaceTime but tried hard to interact and show his human kids and Gary that he will fight this.”

After the pooch passed away, the family gathered around him to pay their final goodbyes.

“We are beyond broken right now. He gave his life to keep our son safe. I am forever grateful to him,” Georgina said.

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