Dog Tales – Max The Siberian Husky

DOG TALES

Max – THE SIBERIAN HUSKY

Shaune Martin left her Augustine Heights home outside of Ipswich for a walk, by her side was her beloved Siberian Husky, Max.

Not more than 200 metres later Shaune was struck by a car and thrown to the side of the road, she had terrible injuries.

Max sprinted back home and Shaune’s fiancée, David Symes, knew something was wrong, not only was Max distressed but he had blood on his feet and legs.

David tried Shaune’s mobile but there was no answer.

David grabbed Max’s lead and with him leading the way, all the while checking that David was following, led him to the prone figure of his love.

“He pulled me along the entire way to where I found her laying unconscious. I managed to wave down a police car on the other side of the road and they immediately called the paramedics.

“If Max hadn’t led me to her, she wouldn’t have been found as she couldn’t be seen from the road.”

Fifteen minutes later a specialist trauma team including a doctor arrived.

MAX, SHAUNA, DAVID AND THE POLICE OFFICERS WHO WERE FIRST ON THE SCENE MAX – THE SIBERIAN HUSKY

The impact left Ms Martin with serious head and facial injuries, along with severe fractures to her arm, neck, pelvis and hip.

Ms Martin underwent an 11-hour facial surgery, spent the next 27 days in a coma before another 44 days in the brain injury rehabilitation unit of the Princess Alexandra Hospital.

But she simply would not be alive if it wasn’t for Max’s devotion, if even just another ten to fifteen minutes had passed before Shaune was found she would not have made it.

When Shaune was in the brain rehabilitation unit David brought Max into see her. In her absence Max had been withdrawn and anxious, now he ran to her and the tears flowed.

Max is much more content now that Shaune is home, but he is very wary of motor vehicles and refuses to go near the accident scene.

Shaune is home with a daily regimen of a strict long-term rehabilitation program and is making “wonderful progress and is in great spirits”.

For his efforts Max was awarded the Queensland RSPCA’s Animal Hero Award – and a large bone.

How can you not love them?

Max, also known as Ukeevea Invincible Max, was bred by one of our Dogs Queensland members Kylie Williams of Ukeevea Siberians.

[Max’s story first appeared in January this year in the Brisbane Times and authored by Matt Dennien. It has been re-written for inclusion in Dogs Queensland’s Dog World magazine by David Margan]