Dog News

Injured Dog Saves Owner After Accident

by Melanie

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12.11.13 - Dog Saves Owner After Accident

 

A Boston man was saved by his eight-year-old beagle mix after the pair were struck by a speeding driver. Though she was injured, Lucy limped to a nearby business for help, then went back to her owner and refused to leave his side until the ambulance came.

John Miles and his dog Lucy were out for their daily four-mile walk in the Boston neighborhood of Dorchester. They were crossing Neponset Avenue when a speeding vehicle hit them. One of John’s arms and both his legs were broken. He also suffered multiple facial fractures.

Lucy was wounded, too, but she didn’t let that stop her from limping to a dentist’s office nearby, where she barked until she got someone’s attention. She then went back to John, whom she stayed beside until an ambulance arrived. Even then she wouldn’t leave the unconscious man’s side.

He did not have identification with him, so police were able to locate his address by checking Lucy’s tags. She was then taken to stay with John’s daughter, Caitlan.

Seeing Lucy whine in his study was heartbreaking, as I know she was thinking about the accident and worried for him,” she said. “Moreover, our initial belief that her injury was superficial proved wrong when she stopped bearing weight on her rear right leg – I knew she had to get to the vet right away.”

Veterinarians at Angell’s Emergency and Critical Care Unit gave her pain medication. X-rays revealed that Lucy suffered a torn ligament in one of her knees and needed surgery.

This is obviously a terribly sad and worrying time for our family, with my father-in-law facing surgery and months of rehab and our much-loved dog, a hero to all of us, also requiring extensive veterinary care. We’ll do whatever it takes to get her well, of course, as she is everything to us,” Caitlan said.

We found out that beagles actually cry, they have tear ducts. So after the accident, when I was home with her, she had tears running down her fur. She is walking around lost without him.”

The surgery, scheduled for December 13, is expected to cost over $5,000. Donations are being accepted to help pay for the heroic girl’s care. Anyone interested in helping may visit the MSPCA’s website.

I’m very happy that Lucy did what she did,” John said. “Makes me feel wonderful because if a dog as good as her can get recognition for doing something above and beyond, good for her.”