Service Dog Jumps in Front of Bus to Save Blind Owner
This service dog showed he's up to any challenge.
A service dog in Brewster, NY, jumped in front of a school bus to protect its owner when the bus driver didn't see them crossing the road on Monday morning.
The golden retriever, named Figo, has a splint on his right front leg, although a veterinarian who helped treat him said he is "on the mend and doing extremely well."
The blind woman, Audrey Stone, 62, suffered a broken ankle and elbow and a trio of fractured ribs.
The bus driver didn't see Stone and Figo crossing the street when the incident occurred.
Witness Paul Schwartz described the scene:
I don't know if (the driver) thought (Stone) was going to move faster, but it looks like the dog tried to take most of the hit for her."
Schwartz also said Figo "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."
Animals are not allowed in ambulances and Schwartz said Stone was very upset to be separated from Figo while she was being placed in one.
The town's police chief also echoed the sentiment about the bond between the two: "The dog took a lot of the blow," he said. "And he did not want to leave her side. He stood right with her. He was there to save her."
The bus driver was cited for failing to yield to a pedestrian.