SAN DIEGO (KGTV) - Local veterinarians and dog owners are warning residents to be on the lookout for rattlesnakes throughout the county.
And one family, especially, is hoping others heed the warning.
Tanner Phillips' dog, Simba, was bitten by a rattlesnake on Saturday while playing outside. Simba is undergoing treatment following the snake bite but, after not responding well to the anti-venom, needs to get his plasma replaced.
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"My dog, he always goes up and looks for the ball. When he tried to look for it, he jumped and I heard a rattlesnake. And I saw it just come up and strike him," Tanner said.
Now, the family is stuck with an expensive vet bill and a dog in pain.
Experts say as warmer weather sets into the county, rattlesnakes are more likely to come out into the open. They typically hide in tall grass and weeds, so residents need to be cautious wherever they may be enjoying the outdoors.
