Earlier this week, a guide dog threw himself in front of an oncoming bus — saving the life of his 62-year-old blind owner.
While crossing the street in Brewster, New York, Audrey Stone and her dog Figo suddenly found themselves in the path of a school mini-bus.
Hero service dog treated for injuries http://t.co/rVuYX5h7j7 pic.twitter.com/1Yp68PMCBS
— lohud.com (@lohud) June 9, 2015
The golden retriever saw the bus careening towards them, and his protective instincts kicked in: he threw himself at the closest part of the vehicle he could, resulting in the pup taking the brunt of the impact.
Service dog Bigo jumps between blind owner and bus. Both hurt but OK. His fur on bus bumper. http://t.co/UcDm47PCk9 pic.twitter.com/uwX4j53kX2
— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) June 9, 2015
Brewster Police Chief John Del Gardo said that police photos of the scene showed fur stuck to the driver’s front wheel. “The dog got hit first,” he said.
The accident left Stone with a broken ankle and elbow and three fractured ribs — but thanks to Figo, she was alive. On the other hand, Figo’s leg was cut down to the bone, said Paul Schwartz, who ran to the scene to help.
Despite his broken leg, Figo didn’t seem concerned about his own injuries. “The dog didn’t want to leave [Stone’s] side,” Schwartz said. “He was flopping over to her, and she didn’t want him to get away from her, either.”
Both Figo and Stone are recovering from their injuries. Stone was hospitalized in Danbury, Connecticut, while Figo had to undergo surgery for his broken foot. The pup now wears a leg splint.
“The dog took a lot of the blow,” Del Gardo said. “And he … stood right with her. He was there to save her.”
The driver behind the wheel of the mini-bus says he did not see the pair crossing the street. He was given a summons for failing to yield to a pedestrian, and has been taken off duty until investigations are complete.
Keep track of Figo’s recovery via the Middlebranch Veterinary Facebook page.