A guide dog threw himself in front of a school bus to protect his blind owner and remained at her side as paramedics treated them, authorities have said.
Figo and his owner, Audrey Stone, were crossing the street in Brewster, New York, when the golden retriever saw the bus coming towards them.
He then threw himself in front of the vehicle before refusing to leave Ms Stone's side despite his own injuries.
John Del Gardo, Brewster Police Chief, said: "The dog took a lot of the blow. And he did not want to leave her side."
"He stood right with her. He was there to save her. You really can't touch an injured dog guarding someone. Touch them - they're aggressive. Not this dog."
Ms Stone (62) suffered a broken ankle, elbow and ribs, as well as a head wound.
Figo had surgery for an injury to his leg, which remains in a splint. He will remain at a veterinary hospital in Danbury, Connecticut, until Ms Stone leaves hospital.
Ms Stone told The Journal News: "He needs the Purple Heart from the president.
"He protects me, loves me, and vice versa. We just have a strong connection.
"We were in the middle of the street and it happened so quickly, but people said he just jumped at the bus."
Police photographs at the scene of the accident showed fur stuck to the front wheel of the bus, according to the Journal News.
Paul Schwartz, who manages a petrol station close to the scene, said: "He was flopping over to her, and she didn't want to get away from him, either. She kept screaming Figo's name."
"He let us wrap up his leg without any problem. He wasn't barking or crying or yelping. But he kept pulling toward her.
Mr Schwartz added that Figo was not allowed to travel in an ambulance with his owner and both were upset after they were separated.
He told CBS: "Even though he was hurt so badly, he was only on three legs at that time, he was still trying to get to the blind woman as much as he could."
The driver of the bus has been given a summons for failing to yield to a pedestrian. Two children on the bus were not injured.
