If someone were to mention the word “hero,” you might automatically think of the men and women who serve their country in the armed forces or of nurses who work long hours tending the sick and comforting their relatives. But heroes come in all shapes and sizes and many of them aren’t even human.
Dogs — famous for being loyal companions — are sometimes called “man’s best friend” and they frequently prove they can more than live up to the title by acting heroically in times of crisis to protect and save their human owners.
Service Dog Jumps in Front of a Bus to Save Owner
Recently a New York service dog made the headlines when he jumped in front of a bus to try to prevent his blind owner from being hit. The 8-year-old Golden Retriever called Figo realized that a bus was going to strike them as they made their way across a walkway. Without thinking of his own safety, he lunged at the bus, putting himself between his owner, Audrey Stone, and the vehicle and sustaining injuries to his leg and paw that later required surgery at a veterinary center.
Audrey received multiple injuries from the impact, but despite Figo’s being in pain and being injured himself, he refused to leave her and stood guard while EMT’s set to work.
Service Dog Saves Baby from Out-of-Control Car
A black Labrador called Jet — charged with guiding his blind owner Jessica Cowley –— saved the life of her 1-year-old baby son Jacob by pushing his stroller out of the way. When a car was shunted from behind, it knocked Jessica to the ground and could have careened into baby Jacob had it not been for the actions of Jet, who ensured the baby escaped with nothing more than a cut lip. She even took the time to check that Jessica was conscious by licking her face.
Mercifully the incident occurred outside a veterinary surgery center so veterinary staff rushed to offer their assistance.
17 Month Old Puppy Saves Choking Trainer
Nell, a 17-month-old German Shepherd mix pup who was training to become a guide dog, saved her boarder’s life by dislodging chocolate that she was choking on. A boarder will take on puppies that are being trained as service dogs. Their role is to provide a loving foster home while they go through the process and to make sure they are adequately socialized and familiar with the many different environments they will encounter as a service dog.
Nell and her boarder, Ms Hailwood, lived alone. On this particular fateful evening, she had decided to have a chocolate but to her horror, it became wedged in the back of her throat. Not able to release it and not knowing what to do, she went back into the room where Nell was sleeping. The dog immediately jumped up on her hind legs and lurched at her with her two front paws, miraculously setting the chocolate loose so her boarder could breathe again. Nell had never been trained to do this and was acting purely on instinct and intelligence.
Service Dog Jumps on Train Track to Save Owner
Another heroic pooch, a Labrador named Orlando, tried to save his blind owner from imminent death when he suddenly lost consciousness and fell onto tracks at a Manhattan subway station and into the path of an oncoming train. Despite the obvious danger, Orlando leapt onto the tracks and tried to rouse his owner, Cecil Williams, by licking his face. He was relentless in his efforts even as the train neared. In the biggest of miracles, the train passed over the top of both Cecil and Orlando and their lives were spared. Both were taken to the hospital, where Orlando didn’t leave his owner’s bedside. The guide dog was quite elderly at 11-years-old and was due to retire and be re-homed, but after the brush with death, the New York organization Guiding Eyes for the Blind raised enough money so that Cecil can afford Orlando’s upkeep in his old age and the pair plan to stay together.
So next time your best friend chews your slippers or spoils your carpet with muddy paws, give him a hug. He could be the world’s next canine hero.
Helen Galton is a freelance writer living in the Bay Area working in the fields of health and wellness.
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Main article photo by: 123RF Stock Photo
