Many pet owners will go to great lengths to protect their furry companions, even if it means risking their own safety. Over the years, there have been numerous accounts of individuals confronting large and potentially dangerous animals to shield their pets from harm.
One such heart-pounding incident recently made waves on the internet, as a man courageously faced off against a kangaroo to rescue his dog from drowning.
Mick Moloney, a resident of Mildura, Australia, was strolling by the river when he noticed that his dog, Hitchy, was nowhere to be seen.
Moloney soon spotted his dog struggling in the river, with a hefty kangaroo keeping him submerged in the water.
“I saw a kangaroo…with its arms in the water, basically just staring at me,” Moloney recounted to Sunrise. “Before I knew it, Hutchy came up gasping for air, water pouring out of his mouth and screaming the lungs out of his body.”
Although kangaroos are typically herbivores and not predators, they can exhibit aggression when they perceive a threat, such as submerging other animals in water.
“Kangaroos have a strong instinct to retreat to water if they feel endangered by a predator,” explained Graeme Coulson, a kangaroo expert at the University of Melbourne, to ABC News. “In the case of a large male kangaroo, they are capable of drowning dogs with their powerful arms and claws if the dogs approach them aggressively.”
Fearing for his dog’s life, Moloney sprang into action. After attempting to scare off the kangaroo to no avail, he ultimately had to physically confront the animal to free Hitchy.
“Let go of my dog,” he demanded of the kangaroo.
While kangaroo attacks on humans are uncommon, their sharp claws and robust limbs can pose a significant challenge. Video footage of the encounter depicts Moloney exchanging blows with the kangaroo, resulting in him being knocked over by the animal’s forceful swipe.
Fortunately, Moloney’s bold actions paid off as he managed to free his dog, and they hastily escaped to the riverbank while the kangaroo remained in the water. Despite sustaining a few scratches and a sore forearm, Moloney emerged from the ordeal unscathed. In a display of resilience, Moloney expressed no intention of altering their usual walking route.
The remarkable confrontation was captured on video and swiftly went viral, earning widespread acclaim for Moloney’s heroic efforts to safeguard his dog.
Watch the video below:
While kangaroos are typically docile creatures that avoid confrontation unless provoked, this incident underscores the lengths to which individuals will go to protect their beloved pets.
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