Hero Dog Rescues Owner After Being Struck by Car

Despite a broken leg and other injuries of her own, Lucy, a Husky/Beagle mix, came to the rescue of her owner, John Miles, after the pair were struck by a car during their daily walk in Dorchester, Mass., proving once again that dogs are the ultimate best friends and everyday heroes.

Though Miles immediately blacked-out and doesn’t remember anything after leaving the house to take Lucy for her walk, witnesses reported to CBS Boston that after being struck, Lucy limped to a nearby dentist’s office and stood outside, barking, until someone opened the door. She then limped back to the road, where Miles was lying unconscious, suffering from 2 broken legs, a broken arm, and at least 15 facial fractures. She remained by his side until emergency crews arrived.

Because Miles had no identification with him, emergency workers used Lucy’s tags to identify him.

“What I’m being told is she sat there and was crying and everything else, you know because I couldn’t get up,” Miles told CBS Boston. “That’s the type of dog she is.”

John’s daughter-in-law, Caitlan, says Lucy is missing her daddy very much while he’s in the hospital recovering.

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

During the ordeal, Lucy was so concerned for Miles that she put her own injuries on the back-burner, not indicating how badly she, herself, was hurt in the accident as well. The family’s initial belief that her injuries were minor proved wrong when Lucy stopped bearing weight on her own back leg.

Caitlan took Lucy to an emergency veterinarian where examination and x-rays revealed that Lucy had torn a ligament in her knee—and surgery would be required to repair her damaged leg.

Upon hearing the diagnoses, Caitlan said “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.”

Lucy’s surgery, scheduled for today, will cost the family upwards of $5,000. The MSPCA has set up a donation fund to provide financial aid to families whose animals need emergency, intermediate and critical care. Those wishing to help in the care of hero dog Lucy, and others like her, can donate by clicking here.

Dr. Meghan Sullivan, who will conduct the operation on Lucy’s leg told the MSPCA, “Lucy reminds us all of the important role animals play in our lives.  She’s a true hero to John and her family and to all of us.  We won’t rest until she’s back to her active self, enjoying long walks with her family once again.”

“Once the winter’s over, if I’m recovered and Lucy’s recovered you can bet we’ll be out doing our walking again,” John said.

The driver of the vehicle that struck John and Lucy stopped after the accident and will not be charged.