'Hero' Dog Gita Leads Deputy To Injured, Elderly Owner

A "hero dog" in Washington is being credited with saving her elderly owner's life after leading a sheriff's deputy to a cabin in the woods where he had fallen and injured his leg, authorities said.

The Stevens County Sheriff's Office on Tuesday shared photos of 13-year-old rescue dog Gita, who was found by Deputy Wright lying in the center of a rural road in a wooded area on Sept. 25. Seeing no visible residences nearby, Wright tried to get Gita into his vehicle so he could try to find her owner, but she refused to get in.

Wright searched the surrounding area and checked residence within a mile of where Gita was found, but did not find her owner. "Sensing something amiss," Wright returned to Gita, where she was still lying in the center of the road.

When Wright tried to move Gita from the road, she ran up a "slightly" traveled, unmarked road. He followed, and she led him to a small cabin. When Wright checked around the area of the cabin, he found an 84-year-old man lying on the ground and calling for help a short distance away.

The man had fallen and injured his leg, and had been lying there for hours, the sheriff's office said. He also had other medical conditions that required regular medication, and there could have been "serious consequences" if he had not been found.

"We credit Gita for saving his life that day. The loyalty and heroism of our furry friends never cease to amaze us," the sheriff's office said. "Thank you, Deputy Wright, for going to the extra effort and thank you Gita for being a good girl and true hero!"

Story via TMX