INDOT crew helps save dog's life

BLUFFTON, Ind. (WANE) - Two INDOT workers are being credited with helping save the life of a smaller dog being attacked by two large dogs on January 17.

Indiana Department of Transportation Fort Wayne District operators Tom Athan and Larry Brunner were driving east on State Road 124 near the Bluffton Subdistrict office when they noticed two large dogs attacking a smaller dog. According to an INDOT spokesperson, the men stopped the truck, blew the horn and yelled, but the large dogs were undeterred. Brunner and Athan jumped from the truck, grabbing tools for reinforcement.  When they approached the large dogs, they stopped attacking the little dog and it ran away toward a nearby farmhouse.

“We initially noticed the dogs because one ran in front of us. We thought at first they were attacking a squirrel or a rabbit,” said Brunner. 

“When we realized it was another dog, we stopped. The larger dogs had the little dog in their mouths; it was almost like a tug-of-war,” said Athan. “We were sure if we didn’t do something, the little dog would be killed.”

A short time later, Brunner and Athan stopped at the farmhouse to check on the little dog, named Tess, and to speak to homeowners Lance and Ann Wygant. Lance was just leaving to take Tess to the veterinarian at the time.

Frankie Wygant, 10, wanted to make sure the operators realized how grateful she and her family were for the rescue. Several days later, Ann Wygant stopped at the Bluffton Subdistrict office with two bags of homemade cookies and letters written by Frankie, addressed to Tess’s “heroes.”

The letters read, “Dear Hero, Thank you for saving my dog. You are the hero of the day! I’m glad Tess is alive. I could not think of a better hero than you. Thanks so, so, so much. Sincerely, Frankie Wygant.”

Tess spent two days at the veterinary hospital after receiving multiple stitches. 

Ann Wygant explained why Tess is so important to the family. Five years earlier, Lance Wygant had been seriously burned, and as he recovered, Tess never left his side. “Lance was in a lot of pain. And whenever he would wake up, Tess was there, right by his side, where he could feel her. She was a huge comfort to him," said Ann.

“We’re so thankful the operators stopped – to help Tess and afterward to check on her,” said Wygant. “It’s unusual for drivers to stop in a situation like that. And I wouldn’t have known what had happed if they hadn’t stopped and told us.”