A golden retriever service dog jumped in front of a bus to protect its blind owner in New York this week, saving the woman and fracturing his own leg.
The dog named Figo has been praised for his heroism and has undergone surgery following the Tuesday accident.
According to IBN Live, the dog's leg — which was cut to the bone — is healing at a veterinarian office in Putnam County.
A Middlebranch Veterinary staffer on Tuesday said Figo is
“on the mend and doing extremely well,” according to lohud.com.
Figo’s owner, 62-year-old Audrey Stone, was hospitalized after the crash with a broken ankle and elbow and three cracked ribs, according to Brewster Police Chief John Del Gardo.
“I thank him,” Stone told CBS2 New York. “I thank God that I have him and that he survived too. I love him.”
A school minibus was traveling toward the pair as they were out walking, and Figo threw himself at the vehicle when it got too close, IBN reported.
“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.”
A bus driver and two kindergarten students were aboard the vehicle during the crash, but none were injured. According to police, the driver did not see the dog and its owner crossing and has received a summons for failing to yield to a pedestrian. He has been taken off duty while an investigation is performed.
Paul Schwartz, an employees a nearby gas station, ran to Stone and the dog following the crash. Schwartz said Figo was limping towards his master as Stone called for her guide.
“The dog was being a good sport, really calm,” Schwartz told lohud.com. “He let us wrap up his leg without any problem. He wasn't barking or crying or yelping. But he kept pulling toward her.”
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