Pet Dog Bites Burning Dynamite to Save Family, Loses Voice but Becomes a Hero

Pet Dog Saves Family from Explosive in Peru
Extinguishes Fuse of Dynamite Thrown by Assailant with Its Mouth

In Peru, it has been reported that a pet dog saved its family by grabbing a stick of dynamite thrown into the front yard with its mouth and extinguishing the fuse.

The appearance of Machis, the pet dog who saved its owner. Photo by New York Post

According to the New York Post, NBC News, and local Peruvian media on September 8 (local time), journalist Carlos Alberto Mesias Zarate's pet dog, Machis, recently protected his family by blocking a stick of dynamite thrown into their yard by an unidentified assailant.

Security camera footage from the incident captured a man dressed in black throwing a lit stick of dynamite into the yard and then fleeing the scene. Machis, a 25-pound (about 11 kg) Cocker Spaniel mix, immediately ran down the stairs and rushed toward the explosive, which was emitting sparks. He pawed at the fuse and rolled the dynamite around, and eventually bit into it with his mouth. At that moment, miraculously, the sparks were extinguished.

Authorities who responded to the scene confirmed that the dynamite was "a high-powered explosive of the kind used in landmines."

Zarate stated, "Machis chewed and chewed on the explosive and saved our lives," adding that "the suspect was arrested after we reported the incident to the police." However, following the incident, Machis unfortunately lost his voice.

Zarate expressed his sadness, saying, "Now, we can hardly hear Machis bark anymore." Although he can no longer bark, Machis continues to stay by his family's side. The story has spread through social networking services and local media, earning Machis widespread attention as a 'brave hero dog.'

Meanwhile, there has also been a case in South Korea where a pet dog saved its family during a crisis. In July, in an apartment in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, a fire broke out in the utility room during the early morning hours. The family's pet dog, Mongsil, barked louder than usual and woke up its sleeping owner. Thanks to this, the family was able to quickly put out the fire with an extinguisher and prevent major damage.