A hero family dog was killed after leaping in front of a charging wolf to save a two-year-old boy playing in his garden. The seven-year-old crossbreed, named Destiny, threw herself between the toddler and the predator after it entered the family's garden in the village of Orbicciano, near Camaiore in Tuscany, Italy, on Saturday evening.
The Attack
The wolf bit Destiny in the throat before dragging her into nearby woodland, according to local reports. The boy's parents, Paula, 40, and Tommaso, 39, were preparing a barbecue when the attack unfolded. Paula was inside the house while Tommaso tended the grill as their son played outside with Destiny in the unfenced garden. The youngster escaped unharmed, while his mother suffered minor injuries as she rushed to protect her son and save the family pet.
Destiny's Brave Act
Italian news outlet La Sicilia reported the wolf entered the garden between 8.30pm and 9.30pm before heading towards the child. Destiny, described by her owners as normally timid, immediately placed herself between the youngster and the animal, barking as she confronted the predator. Tommaso told local reporters: "She saved me and my son. She was always a scaredy-cat who barked at strangers, but in that moment she was fearless."
Aftermath
Paula said she rushed outside after hearing the dog's cries and saw the wolf carrying Destiny by the throat. "It carried her off like she was a rabbit," she said. The couple chased the animal into the undergrowth, suffering cuts and bruises in the process. Tommaso later found Destiny's body near a stream, but the family decided it was too dangerous to recover her because they believed the wolf was still nearby. When they returned the following morning, the dog's body had disappeared. Only her head, a paw and tail remained.
Family's Grief
The family had moved into their rural home just a few months earlier after relocating there in April. They had rescued Destiny as a puppy seven years ago after she was abandoned in a sack. Paula said: "If it hadn't been for Destiny, I don't know what would have happened to our boy – or the other children nearby." The local police carried out checks after a series of recent wolf sightings close to homes in the area. An environmental group has warned of the growing threat from around 1,000 wolves in Tuscany and called for action to protect rural communities.
