The South Australia Bushfires continue to make headlines as more land burns, businesses get impacted, and lives get taken. More than ever, it’s integral to provide support to Australia in any way we can: monetary contributions, physical donations, or volunteer work.
While not everyone may be able to provide their assistance, Patsy the six-year-old dog is one of many individuals being recognized for saving the lives of over 220 sheep who were at risk of being engulfed by the bushfires.
Pasty’s heroic day out all started when Stephen Hill witnessed the wildfire inching closer to his sister’s Corryong, Australia, farm. At approximately 4:15 a.m. on New Year’s Eve, Hill and his border collie rushed out to the farm and rode a 4-wheeler out to the field containing endangered sheep.
Patsy quickly began to round up the sheep, leading them to a safe barn on the property. Meanwhile, the owner of the farm kept the fire under control with a tractor and water pump.
With the collie’s rapid, persistent work, every sheep of the herd – approximately 220 – were detoured from the flames.
Although some may argue that herding sheep is what border collies are known for, not every dog is capable of engaging in the task, especially in a dire situation like Patsy’s.
“If you haven’t got a good dog, you can’t do so much with the sheep,” Hill informed NBC News. “They’re really difficult to move in any way, shape or form unless you have a good dog.”
Fortunately, Patsy was the perfect canine for the job!
While the dog’s owner informs that the wildfires are “not even close to being over. They will burn for weeks, months even, and communities all over Australia are going to be hit just like Corryong has been. Our fire season here isn’t even halfway through, and it seems like nowhere is safe,” they are incredibly grateful for the work Patsy has provided. They also urge others to make donations to bushfire relief if possible. Every bit helps.
“It’s often said that a crisis brings out the best in people. And while I wish more than anything that this bushfire crisis had never happened, over and over again we are seeing the absolute best in people.”
Check out Patsy the heroic dog in the video below. If you want to “stay in touch” with the border collie and keep notified regarding the bushfires, make sure to follow her on Instagram!
