Dog News

Pit Bull Pulls Unconscious Owner From Path Of Oncoming Train

by ADMIN

Life With Dogs is reader-supported. We may earn a small commission through products purchased using links on this page.
lily1
Lilly

An eight year old pit bull is recovering in a Massachusetts animal hospital after conducting a remarkable rescue mission. According to witnesses, the heroic dog saved the life of her owner just before she was hit by an oncoming freight train.

The Massachusetts SPCA said Christine Spain of Shirley was walking home with her dog Lilly when she collapsed on the tracks. Spain’s son, Boston Police Officer David Lanteigne, says a train’s engineer watched in amazement as the dog moved her owner out of harm’s way. Traveling at a high rate of speed, the train was unable to come to a stop, and Lilly was hit seconds after saving Spain.

“The engineer said as he was coming up, he saw the dog pulling her off the tracks. But there wasn’t enough time,” Lanteigne said. “He then saw the dog come around between the train and my mom and take the hit of the train.”

That heroic deed came at substantial cost: veterinarians were forced to amputate a badly mangled leg that was beyond repair. Lilly also suffered a broken pelvis, but remarkably, she is expected to make a full recovery. While receiving treatment for her injuries, the brave dog has been showered with letters of appreciation as news of her story spreads.

For a breed often maligned in media reports this, say pit bull advocates, is just another example of what they are really made of. They say Lilly is a true hero, a sentiment echoed by David Lanteigne.

“Lilly stepped up to the plate – true to form, true to character…and she saved my mom’s life.”