Dog Pulls Unconscious Owner From Train’s Path
When I first read about this heroic dog, I was looking forward to an uncomplicated story of a loyal dog helping its owner. Unfortunately, I feel this owner wasn’t so deserving of this amazing dog, who risked her life.
A pit bull named Lilly, from Shirley, Massachusetts, pulled Christine Spain away from the tracks as a freight train was coming towards them. Spain was unconscious at the time, so Lilly began to do what she thought best, pull her owner from the tracks and placing herself in harm’s way. The engineer of the westward-bound train saw Lilly pulling Spain in the early morning hours of May 3rd, and although he had tried to stop, he was unable to do so before hitting Lilly and leaving Spain unharmed.
As the train passed, the train’s wheels sliced through Lilly’s right foot, fractured her pelvis in numerous locations and caused various other internal injuries.
When EMTs arrived at the scene, Lilly was covered in blood but still standing guard over her owner, who had collapsed next to the tracks while walking home from a friend’s house.
This is when I began to get angry. Why did the woman pass out and why was she walking home in the very early morning hours? My assumption is that Christine endangered her dog because she was drunk and unable to stay conscious.
Spain’s son, Boston police Officer David Lanteigne, transferred Lilly from an emergency animal hospital in Acton to Angell Animal Medical Center in Boston. In fact, Lanteigne is the one who adopted Lilly three years earlier, for his mother, in the hopes that it would help curb her drinking! AHA! While I may be wrong, this just makes me feel more confident in my original assumption. Obviously, Lilly loves the woman and wanted to save her life, but it was because of Spain’s irresponsibility that Lilly was even in that position.
“Lilly’s recovery from this horrific ordeal is my top priority right now and I’ll do everything possible to get her back home to us,” Lanteigne said.
At this point, we know that Lilly’s foot could not be saved and her right front leg had to be amputated. Luckily, the veterinarian said she should be able to walk once she fully recovers.
To make a donation to Lilly’s care and treatment, click here.
Related articles
- Humpback Whales Protect a Gray Whale from Killer Whales (psychologytoday.com)
- Hero Dog Pulls Unconscious Owner From Train’s Path (huffingtonpost.com)
- Pit Bull Pulls Unconscious Owner From Path Of Oncoming Train (boston.cbslocal.com)
- Pit Bull Pulls Owner From Railroad Tracks And Loses Own Leg In Process (thecrimsoncrow.com)
- Watch: Pit Bull Takes Hit, Saves Owner From Train (abcnews.go.com)
- Dog pulls owner off railroad tracks (wave3.com)
I just came across this story this morning and I was under the same impression! All the comments on the first article I read praising the courage and loyalty of Lily…none asking the obvious question. Why did she pass out? Glad to see someone is feeling the same way I am, because while I think Lily and what she did was amazing, it’s overshadowed at my anger towards this irresponsible, undeserving individual who through her own selfish vices put this poor brave, sweet, loyal dog through so much pain and suffering.