Service dog jumps between blind owner, bus http://t.co/RbPwpbQ6C0 @usatoday Photo: @frankbecerrajr @lohud pic.twitter.com/wb7sf0jhWV
? USA TODAY (@USATODAY) June 9, 2015Because we know how animal lovers operate, we're going to tell you right off the bat that the dog survived and is expected to make a full recovery. Being animal lovers ourselves, we know that we'd be hesitant to read a story, even one that sounds as amazing as this one, if we didn't know what happened to the animal. So we're telling you right now: both the dog and the owner are alive and well! Now let's read on about this incredible hero from Brewster, New York.
Figo, a golden retriever service dog, is on the mend after saving his blind owner from what would have been a life-threatening situation by throwing himself in front of an oncoming school bus.
Audrey Stone was walking through an intersection when a bus made a left-hand turn without noticing her crossing the street. Without hesitation, Figo reportedly immediately jumped in front of the bus to take the brunt of the hit.
Paul Schwartz, the manager of the gas station near the accident side, witnessed the crash and ran over to help.
"There were 15 EMTs and people all around her and the dog didn't want to leave her side," Schwartz told The Journal News. "[Figo] was flopping over to her and she didn't want him to get away from her, either. She kept screaming, 'Where's Figo? Where's Figo? Where's Figo?' We kept telling her he was fine."
Stone fractured her elbow and ankle, broke three ribs and received a cut on her head, but her injuries would have been way worse had it not been for her dog's heroic actions. Figo suffered a deep cut on his leg that was tended to at the scene.
"The dog was being a good sport, really calm," Schwartz said. "He sat with me the whole time. He was limping as we put him on a big blanket on the sidewalk and it started to rain. He let us wrap up his leg without any problem. He wasn't barking or crying or yelping. But he kept pulling toward her. After she was put on a gurney and taken away, he stopped doing that. He seemed a little lost after she left."
Posted by Middlebranch Veterinary on Tuesday, June 9, 2015
According to The Journal News, the bus driver was taken in for routine post-accident drug and alcohol testing and will be taken off-duty while the accident is investigated.
Stone is currently in the hospital undergoing treatment, but Brewster Police Chief John Del Gardo says she was happy to hear that her dog is recovering and being well cared for.
"The dog took a lot of the blow," Del Gardo said. "And he did not want to leave her side. He stood right with her. He was there to save her."
The Middlebranch Veterinary Facebook page posted the above photos of Figo and wrote that he "is resting comfortably and recovering nicely from his wounds." You can follow their page for more updates on his condition.
As we always do when writing about heroic dogs doing amazing things for their owners, we have to compare them to our cats. What would they do in this situation?
…
They'd be pushing us in front of the bus. Yep, that's probably how it would go down.*
*Obviously we are kidding. Our cats are not murderous creatures.
Or are they?!