Heroic dog’s heart stopped after getting injured protecting family home, but now his tail wags again

Mattie Allen, communications director at Española Humane, shared how Pancho, a rescued 75-pound pit bull, bravely defended his family from an intruder.

In June, an armed intruder broke into Pancho’s family’s home in Española, New Mexico.

Pancho, who loves being called a “good boy,” immediately sensed danger and fearlessly protected his human family — a dad, a mom, and their daughter — and their home.

Despite being kicked multiple times and suffering a spine injury, Pancho persisted in defending his loved ones, as his veterinary team revealed in a recent interview with TODAY.com.

The communications director of Española Humane described how Pancho sustained a serious wound in his neck during the incident.

Despite this, Pancho steadfastly fulfilled his role as protector by biting the intruder’s arm and holding on until his owner signaled that the danger was over.

After the authorities apprehended the attacker, Pancho’s family rushed to find emergency care for his life-threatening injuries.

They visited several animal hospitals before bringing Pancho to the Española Humane shelter, where he had been adopted eight years earlier.

Allen recalls when Pancho received treatment for his severe neck injury after arriving at the shelter.

“We had to do a lot of work to treat the area because it was dirty,” she explains.

Allen shared that Pancho stopped breathing and required lifesaving chest compressions and medications for surgery.

The team comforted him by calling him a “good boy” and were amazed at how he responded.

“Whenever we called him a ‘good boy,’ his tail started thumping,” Allen recalls. “Even when they brought him back after his heart stopped, he stopped breathing, he lifted his head, and he wagged his tail.”

Allen expressed surprise that Pancho was wagging his tail at strangers after such a traumatic experience.

She highlighted how Pancho’s behavior challenges stereotypes about pit bulls.

“I think pit bulls get such a bad rap in the media, and people might not understand them,” she explains.

Despite grabbing the intruder, she noted how Pancho showed no aggression towards the strangers there to help him, understanding their intentions clearly.

After surgery, Pancho rejoined his family. Allen recalls Pancho’s mom in tears as he entered the clinic’s recovery area while his dad knelt, cradled Pancho’s head, and praised him as a “good boy.”

The family agreed Pancho should have rib-eye steaks forever.

Allen expressed how dogs’ loyalty and love for their people are remarkable daily.

She reflects on how dogs save us daily, noting Pancho’s heroic act. Despite his recent ordeal, she marvels at dogs’ willingness to protect us, even at the risk of their lives.

Pancho’s recovery is going well; he’s walking again, though unsteadily.

The communications director at Española Humane describes him as a miracle, unsure how he survived after being kicked so hard that his spine was displaced and he was bleeding.

Since the incident, Pancho’s community has praised his bravery and offered support in various ways.

His surgery was done for free by the veterinary team, and his family regularly takes him to the clinic for wound care.

Additionally, a local veterinarian provided Pancho with complimentary acupuncture and laser therapy for his spine.

Pancho’s story spread on social media, prompting Omaha Steaks to send him a cooler filled with rib-eye steaks as a gesture of appreciation.

Allen assists the family by driving to their home to pick up Pancho for his treatment and then returning him.

She offered it because she felt grateful to Pancho for his bravery and heroism in saving his family. Allen feels deeply connected to Pancho and his story.

On June 19, one week after his surgery, the veterinary team and community organized a barbecue to celebrate Pancho’s healing.

They had a mariachi band perform, and locals brought a special peanut butter-filled cake for Pancho and another for the human guests.

Pancho happily wagged his tail throughout the party, like the good boy he is.

Meanwhile, here’s a video of adorable dogs guarding their human families: