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
A blind woman suffered three broken ribs, a fractured elbow and ankle, as well as a cut to the head Monday morning when she was struck by a bus carrying kindergarten students while crossing a street in Brewster, New York. Her injuries could have been even worse, however, had her service dog, a Golden retriever named Bigo, not valiantly jumped in to save the day.
The bus was apparently making a left turn onto the road 62-year-old Audrey Stone was in the middle of crossing at the time; the driver was apparently watching oncoming traffic and not paying attention to the crosswalk. Seeing the oncoming danger, her loyal companion threw himself between Stone and the bus, reportedly taking the brunt of the hit for her.
Paul Schwartz, the manager of the Xtra Mart gas station at the corner of the intersection where the accident occurred, was a witness at the scene. According to USA Today:
“There were 15 EMTs and people all around her and the dog didn’t want to leave her side,” Schwartz said. “He was flopping over to her and she didn’t want him to get away from her, either. She kept screaming, ‘Where’s Bigo? Where’s Bigo? Where’s Bigo?’ We kept telling her he was fine.”
“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.”
How many other creatures will selflessly risk their own life and limb to protect those that they care about? Bigo was taken to a local veterinarian’s office to have surgery on his right leg, which was “cut down to the bone” as a result of the accident. Hopefully Bigo and his owner will make full recoveries and be reunited with each other soon. In the meantime, give your dog a hug for Bigo.
(Via USA Today)