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Woman Hit By Bus Says Guide Dog 'Deserves A Medal'

PUTNAM COUNTY, N.Y. -- Brewster resident Audrey Stone, who was hit by a mini school bus while walking through the village on Monday, praised her guide dog Figo for his heroic intervention.

Audrey Stone, pictured in her room at Danbury Hospital. Stone sustained multiple injuries from being hit by a bus in Brewster.

Audrey Stone, pictured in her room at Danbury Hospital. Stone sustained multiple injuries from being hit by a bus in Brewster.

Photo Credit: Tom Auchterlonie

Figo, who was also injured by the bus after jumping in front of Stone, is recovering at a veterinarian's in Carmel.

“He deserves a medal for what he did," Stone said in her room at Danbury Hospital, where she is recovering from multiple injuries.

Stone mentioned the Purple Heart as an example, something that she told other journalists this week.

Stone said that Figo has acted to protect her before from moving shopping carts and wondered whether he confused the bus for one.

“Sometimes he’ll jump in front of me to stop the cart. I think he thought in his head that was a shopping cart.”

Stone, who has lived in Brewster since she was a child, has had Figo as her guide dog for six years. Figo is 8 years old. Stone relies on the support for a guide dog because she is legally blind.

Stone is unable to remember much of what happened in the incident. Her recollection is based on what a person working at a nearby gas station said.

“I don’t remember getting hit," Stone said. "I don’t think I want to remember.”

Stone, whose recollection is limited to experiencing a thump and being on the ground, also recalled what she was told about the incident and how her dog reacted.

“Apparently, he broke away from my hand," Stone said about Figo. "He saw the bus coming and jumped up at the bus to stop it and to save my life.”

Figo's physical trauma from the collision is his second major medical problem in recent months. Stone noted that just weeks before her dog had an inflamed stomach and worried that she was going to lose him.

Although Stone is temporarily separated from Figo, the hospital has given her a toy stuffed dog for company and will give her access to a therapy dog. Going forward, Stone is slated to leave the hospita and spend time in a rehabilitation center, which she hopes to get out of after two weeks.

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