A one year old Shiloh Shepherd named Tinsley is getting praise — and extra treats — after she saved her owner's life by leading New Hampshire police to the site of his vehicle rollover.
According to New Hampshire State Police, a state trooper and several police officers responded to a report of a canine loose on Interstate 89 in Lebanon, near the border with Vermont, around 10 p.m. ET on Monday. When they tried to approach her, she ran north on the highway into Vermont.
A short time later, police said, the responders found a damaged section of guardrail at a nearby junction. They spotted a "badly damaged pickup truck that had rolled over," and realized that two passengers had been ejected from it. Both were suffering hypothermia and serious injuries and were later treated at a local hospital.
While at the scene, the officers learned that Tinsley — who did not appear to be hurt in the crash — belonged to one of the vehicle's occupants.
"It quickly became apparent that Tinsley led Trooper Sandberg and the Lebanon Police to the crash site and injured occupants," the police wrote.
They posted a photo to Facebook showing the overturned and crumpled truck, lying in a wooded area off the side of the road.
Lt. Daniel Baldassare of the New Hampshire State Police told My NBC5 that it was unclear how long the two men had been outside of the vehicle, adding that Tinsley had evidently been outside for "a little bit," since her fur was wet.
"This was almost like a real-life Lassie situation," Baldassarre said, according to CNN. "It's really quite remarkable. This dog definitely saved their lives. I don't think they would have survived the night given the temperatures."
Tinsley's story has already gotten significant attention from national and local media outlets, including My NBC5 and WCVB-TV, which posted a photo of the "adorable hero herself."
Officers on the scene called EMS, who credit their fast response to Tinsley. Captain Jack Hedges of the Hartford Fire Department told the station that while responders were tending to the passengers, the dog "sat there nice and calm, right next to its owner."
Cam Laundry, Tinsley's owner, described her as his "little guardian angel" and "co-pilot," who frequently rides with him in his now-wrecked truck.
"It's a miracle how she has that kind of intelligence to do what she did," he told the station after being released from the hospital.
He said she would likely be getting some venison burger as a reward. Some heroes get medals, others get meat.
This story originally appeared in the Morning Edition live blog.
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