Pet provides example for sacrificial living

A friend of mine from Texas lost his wife to cancer a few years ago. His kids were grown, so he bought a Lab puppy for company. He named her Abbey. She was beautiful, smart and energetic. 
When my friend got too busy to walk the dog, she began to tear down his wooden fence, break out windows and essentially eat the house in which my friend lived. Not wanting to destroy the dog and unwilling to have the liability of having her eat someone else’s home, he decided to send her to a trainer.
After four weeks of resident training, the dog-handler called in tears. Abbey was the most impressive dog she had ever trained and she hated to give her back. She was the smartest animal and best friend the trainer ever had. My friend eventually pried the tear-soaked dog from the trainer’s shaking arms, and gave her to his son who was a hunter and expectant father. 
Since then, Abbey has proven loyal, loving and obedient; a true source of security. So faithful is Abbey that a few days ago my friend called and told me Abbey had nearly died. As the grandchild-toddler was playing near a pile of wood in his backyard Abbey became agitated. She began to alternately nuzzle the boy away from the pile, and then return to bark ferociously. On the third time back to the pile, Abbey yelped, and slowly walked back into her kennel, followed by the boy. She put her head down and the boy wrapped his arms around her and rested his head on her back. The vet said Abbey had indeed been bitten by a poisonous snake. She would have likely died if not for an anti-venom she received during duck season. 
The Bible says we must worship and obey God, and we should sacrificially protect, serve, care for and love each other. These are the most important commandments. It is a little funny to me when I think we can learn how to live that way by watching a dog that once nearly ate a house.