Dog Saves Dog On Highway

In the latter part of 2008 just about every Television Station in the world covered the story 'Dog Saves Dog On Highway', 'Dog Risks Life To Save Injured Friend' and 'Dog Saves Another Dog On Freeway'. The video footage of this remarkable canine rescue captured the hearts of many and there were numerous offers to adopt the hero dog and the animal which was rescued.

The video footage was spliced together from that taken by security and traffic control cameras on the Costanera Norte Highway in Santiago, Chile. The original Spanish language commentary related to the problems of the numerous feral dogs and the risks which they caused to traffic. There was no mention of a hero dog or dog saving. The captured scene did however capture the publics attention.

The various English Language Western Television Stations all had their own interpretation on the scene. Some of the commentaries are quite flowery.

Nobody knows what happened to the dogs. It was some months after the the incident that the video appeared on English Language television and it was only then that questions were asked. People wanted to know more and people wanted to adopt. The Authorities in Santiago were unable to find either of the dogs or provide further details.

Examination of video footage, reading reports and listening to commentaries from several different television stations can lead to confusion. "One dog died". " Both Dogs Survived". "Both Dogs Are Expected To Make A Full Recovery". Such statements in spite of the fact that people, on the ground in Santiago were unable to locate either animal.

The dogs were feral, in spite of the fact that the 'hero dog' was wearing a collar. It is highly unlikely that the dog seen lying in the road survived. Going by the video it was hit more than once. Even if a feral dog was lucky enough to end up in an animal hospital it is likely that it would have been put to sleep. Apparently this animal was lifted from the road by its tail and put into a van. It was followed closely by the Hero Dog. It is any body's guess what happened next because nobody knows or nobody is saying. Perhaps the Hero lived another day.

It has been suggested that the video is a fake. Considering that the original Spanish Language story was relating to feral dogs on the Freeway then a compilation of clips showing different dogs at different venues would be quite acceptable. It is then highly possible that the dog or dogs seen being hit by traffic are different animals to those seen in the final part of the video...our hero and his companion. The footage when shown in the West was interpreted differently and with a new spiel.

It has been unkindly suggested that the two animals are tied together by a short rope and that is why the Hero Dog uncharacteristically is pulling its fallen companion with its legs rather than its teeth. I have seen no evidence of the rope but it does remain a possibility because there are some sick people out there. Others have surmised that the dog is taking the dead or injured animal as food. This too is a possibility, feral animals do utilise 'road kill' but this is unlikely.

There is no doubt that animals, and dogs especially, show both devotion and loyalty to their companions whether they are humans or fellow canines. We will never know the true facts behind this very touching video. I would like to think that both animals did make it.