Tracey Jacobs wrote to Cape Town radio station KFM to say she saw the snake after exiting her car on Friday afternoon.

She explained how her bull terrier, Dexter, “immediately grabbed it and fought it out of the garage”.

“I can’t thank him enough for saving my life!” she told KFM. “He is such a fighter!”

After sending pictures of the snake to her husband, he advised her that it was a cobra and they should get to the vet immediately.

A race against time

Jacobs and her husband had to make their way from Klipheuwel to Tygerberg Animal Hospital in peak hour traffic, while Dexter fought for his life.

Cars in traffic made way for the family, “by the grace of God”, and upon arriving at the hospital the dog was “blue and barely breathing”.

Dexter was given a 50/50 chance, and as the night progressed his kidneys began to fail and his heart rate began to drop.

Happily, Jacobs said the brave dog's condition steadily improved and he is now walking again.

Hundreds of messages were left on social media applauding the courageous canine, such as Julie Coxton who wrote: "Dogs are the most amazing animals. They will put your life before their own."

In December last year, a Free State teen was bitten by a Cape Cobra in her sleep.

The snake bit Ané Meyer on the shoulder while she was sleeping on her family’s farm. Ané was in a lot of pain and all her muscles were sore, but there were no other negative symptoms, she said.

"She woke up due to something biting her. Her first reaction was to hit it, but when she turned around and saw what it was, the snake was standing up next to her pillow," her mother said.

Meyer’s father killed the snake.

- News24.com