BREWSTER, N.Y. Service dogs are known for showing complete devotion to the people they help, but one golden retriever is being lauded for going above and beyond jumping in front of a school bus to save the life of his blind companion.
Figo the dog was walking with the woman he was trained to guide, 62-year-old Audrey Stone, through a New York intersection on Monday morning when he saw a mini school bus heading straight toward them, according to USA Today. The dogs protective instincts kicked in immediately, and he threw his body into the buss front wheels to protect Stone from bearing the brunt of the impact.
I dont 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, Paul Schwartz who manages the gas station across the street and witnessed the accident told USA Today.
The bus driver who was transporting two kindergarteners to a nearby school told police he didnt see Figo and Stone, according to The Journal News.
When help arrived, witnesses said Figo who was badly injured refused to leave Stone.
He did not want to leave her side, Brewster Police Chief John Del Gardo told USA Today. He stood right with her. He was there to save her.
Witnesses said Stone, who fractured her elbow and ankle, broke three ribs and suffered cuts to her head, was frantically yelling for her dog.
There were 15 EMTs and people all around her, Schwartz said. He was flopping over to her and she didnt want him to get away from her either. She kept screaming, Wheres Figo?
Once Stone was safely loaded into an ambulance, EMTs and volunteers at the scene wrapped Figos leg before firefighters took him to a veterinary hospital where he underwent surgery on his leg, USA Today reported.
A staffer at the veterinary hospital where he was treated said Figo was doing extremely well as of Tuesday, Journal News reported.
Stone was recovering in the hospital and told De Gardo she was anxious to get Figo back at her side.
The driver of the bus was issued a summons for failing to yield to a pedestrian and was placed on leave while the investigation continues. He submitted to drug and alcohol tests, and investigators plan to review tape from the bus dashboard cameras, USA Today reported.
Figo the dog was walking with the woman he was trained to guide, 62-year-old Audrey Stone, through a New York intersection on Monday morning when he saw a mini school bus heading straight toward them, according to USA Today. The dogs protective instincts kicked in immediately, and he threw his body into the buss front wheels to protect Stone from bearing the brunt of the impact.
I dont 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, Paul Schwartz who manages the gas station across the street and witnessed the accident told USA Today.
The bus driver who was transporting two kindergarteners to a nearby school told police he didnt see Figo and Stone, according to The Journal News.
When help arrived, witnesses said Figo who was badly injured refused to leave Stone.
He did not want to leave her side, Brewster Police Chief John Del Gardo told USA Today. He stood right with her. He was there to save her.
Witnesses said Stone, who fractured her elbow and ankle, broke three ribs and suffered cuts to her head, was frantically yelling for her dog.
There were 15 EMTs and people all around her, Schwartz said. He was flopping over to her and she didnt want him to get away from her either. She kept screaming, Wheres Figo?
Once Stone was safely loaded into an ambulance, EMTs and volunteers at the scene wrapped Figos leg before firefighters took him to a veterinary hospital where he underwent surgery on his leg, USA Today reported.
A staffer at the veterinary hospital where he was treated said Figo was doing extremely well as of Tuesday, Journal News reported.
Stone was recovering in the hospital and told De Gardo she was anxious to get Figo back at her side.
The driver of the bus was issued a summons for failing to yield to a pedestrian and was placed on leave while the investigation continues. He submitted to drug and alcohol tests, and investigators plan to review tape from the bus dashboard cameras, USA Today reported.
