A Woman's Best Friend: Holguín Woman Credits Her Dog for Foiling Intruder During Blackout

In Holguín, a woman faced a terrifying encounter during a nighttime power outage and credits her mixed-breed dog, Katira, with saving her life. The harrowing event was recounted by Liagnett Santana on Facebook, sparking widespread discussion about the vital role pets can play in home security.

"My dog saved me last night during the blackout," Santana shared, accompanied by a photo of herself embracing the six-year-old dog she adopted as a puppy from a street market in the Lenin neighborhood. Her aim in sharing her story was to highlight the importance of keeping pets indoors, well-fed, and cared for, emphasizing, "That's how they truly save your life."

On the night of the incident, Santana was alone, weary, and emotionally burdened by her grandmother's illness. She went to bed without locking the door or gate, left in complete darkness due to the power outage. Around 9:30 p.m., while scrolling through her phone, Katira suddenly emerged from under the bed, transformed into what Santana described as "a bear," and fiercely charged toward something in the kitchen.

"Folks, it was a man who had snuck into my home," Santana recounted, explaining that although Katira usually alerts her to even the slightest noise on the stairs, she only reacted once the intruder had already gained entry to the second-floor apartment. Amid Santana's screams and Katira's attack, the intruder fled down the stairs, seen by neighbors as he escaped with a backpack.

"Last night, I was saved by a street dog I brought into my home," she concluded. Her post has been widely shared, attracting messages of support and acknowledgment of the courage displayed by mixed-breed dogs, often overlooked for their lack of "pedigree."

Historically, there have been numerous accounts of dogs displaying remarkable bravery in protecting their owners from danger. In one instance in Russia, a woman was shielded from an assault by her dog, which fiercely confronted the attacker. Although the dog was injured while shielding its owner from a blow, it managed to drive the assailant away.

Another notable event involved a stray dog intervening during an attempted robbery of a woman on a public street. The dog charged at the robber, causing him to flee immediately.