This hero pet dog made the ultimate sacrifice when it died while protecting its owners from a deadly cobra that entered their home.

The martyr pooch named Fah squared off with the 5ft-long venomous creature after it had slithered into Khun Nid's property in Ang Thong, Thailand, on December 17 evening.

The frantic homeowner found the cobra lurking in his basement and used a stick to drive it away, but it stood its ground even with a trio of dogs barking at it.

To Nid's shock, valiant Fah suddenly lunged at the serpent and thrashed it around before letting go. The surprise attack had weakened the cobra and tore off large chunks of its scales around its neck.

Nid then called his relatives who lived next door for help, and also notified animal rescue volunteers to dispose of the cobra.

As the officers hauled the snake away, Fah collapsed onto the floor, the venom already spreading through its body after being bitten in retaliation.

The family bundled the selfless dog into a pickup truck and rushed to a veterinarian in Ang Thong province, only to find that the hospital was already closed.

They sped to neighbouring Lopburi province, but Fah had tragically died in transit. The brave canine was buried under the banana trees in front of the family's home.

Nid said: 'Fah is a female dog. I don't know how old she is because she was originally a stray living in the neighbourhood. We just gave her food and fish to eat until she became used to it and came to live in our house.

'She has been killing snakes that enter the property. She had killed three before passing away.'

Homeowner Chalong, 70, added: 'Fah has one puppy named Tang who would follow her everywhere. After she died from the snake bite, the poor puppy refuses to eat. It must be grieving for its mum.'