A 16-year-old teen named Joseph Phillips-Garcia was on a trip to the mountains with his family when their car met with an accident. They were from the community of Kanaka Bar in British Columbia. His cousins and aunts were killed in the crash immediately while Joseph and his dog, Sako, fell a 328-foot embankment.
Joseph was paralyzed, suffering a broken femur and collar bone. He could feel Sako worriedly staring at him as he lay unconscious in the dam. The dog never left Joseph. He tried to keep his owner warm with his own body.
Sako would drag Joseph to a stream to feed him water for two days. Their main fear, however, was the predators lurking around them. The coyotes could track them down, probably smelling Joseph’s blood. Coyotes belong to the canine family native to North America and are close relatives of the gray wolf. It is believed that coyotes are man’s worst enemies. They have been known to attack humans and are potentially dangerous to people, most especially children.
While Sako kept fighting the coyotes off, he fearlessly put his life on the line to protect Joseph from the dangerous beasts. He had to endure the coyote bites for several days until help came.
After three days and two nights in the woods, a search and rescue team could finally locate Joseph and Sako. They were immediately rushed to the hospital, where Joseph underwent multiple surgeries due to his injuries. Sako was also treated for the deep wounds from the coyote bites.
The police shared their story of survival, and Sako became famous for his courageous act. He was later added to the Purina Animal Hall of Fame, where he was awarded a medal and honored in a ceremony.
Watch an inspiring story of loyalty and bravery by clicking the video.
Source Purina via Youtube
