ZENA the staffordshire terrier is the toast of the Schultz family after the 10-year-old pooch jumped on a deadly tiger snake as it was about to enter the house where three young children were playing.
The snake crawled across the concrete patio of the house in Bannockburn near Geelong and was about to enter the rumpus room where the Schultz children Brendan, seven, Jared, six, and Sarah, three, were watching television.
Their mother Patricia said she saw the reptile first and started screaming which prompted the children to follow suit.
It was at this stage that Zena took matters into her own paws, jumping on to the one-metre-long snake and breaking its spine with a snap of her jaws.
"We've been here 10 years and have never seen a snake before," Mrs Schultz said.
Since the incident happened yesterday, Zena has been spoiled and has even been treated to a cake.
"It's made us aware that we have to close all the doors now," Mrs Schultz said.
Mrs Schultz's husband Steven took the precaution of taking Zena to the vet to make sure she had not been bitten in her battle with the snake.
Veterinarian Dr Mark Perissinotto says the warmer weather was bringing out snakes.
