Train Driver Stops Feet Away from Dog Chained to Railroad Tracks

File photo of train tracks. (Pixabay/CC0)

A train driver from Chile has been hailed a hero after bringing his huge locomotive to a halt to prevent a terrified dog chained to a railroad track from getting run over.

The train driver filmed the moment, which was published by Metro, after he made the emergency stop as he climbed down from his cab and freed the poor animal.

The train driver is heard saying in the video, “How can there be people so bad? Who leave little dogs tied up on the tracks?

“You cannot do that. I hope someday the human race changes.”

The incident took place in Llay-Llay, in the central region of Valparaiso, according to The Mirror.

Llay-Llay mayor Edgardo Gonzalez was cited in the report as saying that an investigation had been launched. Gonzalez reportedly vowed to file a criminal complaint against whoever tied the dog to the tracks and apparently left it to suffer a gruesome death.

“We are shocked by the cruelty seen in our society,” Gonzalez was cited by The Mirror as saying. “We condemn and reject this incident against a defenceless animal, and we are thankful for the behaviour of the driver who saved its life.

“As a municipality, we are taking the actions that need to be done [and are filing] a criminal complaint against the culprits and we also contacted the driver to offer our help to give this little dog the veterinary attention and other things it needs.

“We will also find a way of putting the little dog up for adoption.”

Footage of the driver’s heroic act has been shared on social media, sparking numerous reactions.

“Wicked people. Well done driver ?” said one person on Twitter.

Another person that posted the video wondered whether someone had intentionally tied the dog to the track of if it had gotten tangled up by accident

“Yes, it’s very heartless. I wonder if he escaped the owners and caught himself in the dorm ... but I think I was just comforting myself. There are many heartless people and such cases ...?”

One person who self-identifies as an “Animal Lover and Gator Fan” replied: “It is possible that he was running and dragging a chain. It depends on how it was hooked to the rail. ?‍♀️”

Animal Hero Awards, a Facebook page dedicated to animal rescue, posted the story, where it garnered several reactions.

Local media cited by The Metro reported the dog dashed from the scene the moment the driver set it free.

Mother Dog and 9 Puppies Found in Sealed Box in Garbage Dump

In related news, a dog and its nine puppies were found abandoned inside a sealed box at a British Columbia garbage dump.

The B.C. Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) said in a statement that a Good Samaritan found the dog at the Puntzi Lake Landfill on June 5 and brought it to the animal shelter.

“There is no excuse for simply walking away from a pet and leaving them to die,” said Lorie Chortyk, the SPCA’s general manager of communications. “Abandoning animals is against the law and individuals can be prosecuted for their crime.”

“Unfortunately, it would have been so easy for those animals to suffocate and die if someone hadn’t happened upon them,” Chortyk told the CBC.

A border collie / husky mix named Casey, along with her nine puppies, was found in a sealed box at a landfill in British Columbia, Canada, on June 5, 2019. (BC SPCA)

The SPCA is asking the public to help find the owner who abandoned the animals.

“So, at this point, we are just looking for information, but certainly if we identify the person who had done this,” Chortyk told the CBC, “we would be looking at animal cruelty charges.”

The dog, which staff at the shelter have named Casey, is about a year old and is believed to be a border collie/husky mix. The five male and four female puppies were about a week old when found.

The canine family are being looked after for around eight weeks until the puppies are old enough to leave their mother’s care, after which the puppies will be available for adoption.