When her owner collapsed, this dog broke free from her leash and ran into traffic — neighbors stunned when they realized what she was doing

The driver recalled that the dog never once looked away from her owner, backing down the street to guard her.

PUBLISHED OCT 22, 2025

(L) A woman lying unconscious on the road. (R) A pet dog running. (Representative Cover Image Source: Getty Images | (L) Alvaro Medina Jurado, (R) mari d'angeri)

Some days begin like any other, with no hint that life is about to change. That’s how it started for Haley Moore on a quiet morning in the Ottawa suburb of Stittsville. She was out walking her dog, Clover, a then one-and-a-half-year-old Maremma mix. It was a peaceful stroll through her neighborhood until she dropped to the ground. The incident turned into a story her family will never forget.

A woman walking her dog (Representative Image Source: Pexels | Samson Katt) — A woman walking her dog. (Representative Image Source: Pexels | Samson Katt)

As reported by CTV News, Haley suddenly collapsed without warning and began to seize. "All I remember is waking up in the ambulance and being really confused; just like, ‘What is going on?’" Moore shared. In the critical moments between her fall and the arrival of paramedics, Clover did something remarkable. Security footage from a neighbor’s camera captured it all. Clover stayed close to her owner at first, watching as one car passed by without stopping. Then, when a second vehicle approached, she sprang into action, breaking free from her leash and stepping into the street to stop the truck.

Injured girl lying on road unconscious after car accident. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images| Caiaimage/Paul Bradbury) — Injured girl lying on road unconscious after car accident. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Caiaimage/Paul Bradbury)

The driver, then 21-year-old Dryden Oatway, was stunned. “It was really impressive,” he said. “The dog actually blocked my way. She kind of backed into the road to block my truck.” Oatway jumped out to help, all while Clover kept a close and watchful eye. “The whole time she was backing down the street, she had eyes on Haley; didn’t look away from her. She kept her distance from me but made sure her owner was okay, and that was amazing,” he recalled. Oatway rushed to find help from a neighbor, and soon a second neighbor, Danielle Pilon, pulled up and joined in. “I just stopped and I jumped out of the Jeep and I asked Dryden if everything was okay,” she said. Once she learned what had happened, she rushed to help.

A woman lying on a hospital bed in a blue hospital gown. Representative Image Source: Pexels | RDNE Stock Project — A woman lying on a hospital bed in a blue hospital gown. (Representative Image Source: Pexels | RDNE Stock Project)

Clover, after seeing Pilon and Oatway take over, decided to run home. Pilon remembered the moment vividly. "You could tell she didn’t want to leave her even when we were with her, but I think it just came to her that she was like 'I need to go home to let them know she needs help,'" she said. "When I got a knock on the door from the neighbors, they were frantic and our dog Clover was barking like crazy," recalled Haley’s father, Randall Moore. By the time they returned to the street, Haley was already receiving medical care.

A woman smiling and hugging her pet dog. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | luliia Zavalishina)

Though the cause of the seizure was never determined, Haley recovered fully. The family was shaken but grateful. “It was just terrifying,” said Randall. But through it all, they found comfort in Clover’s instincts. “If this ends up happening again, I feel 10 times safer, and I know she will be there for me,” Haley said. As for Clover, she was treated to a well-earned hero’s reward. "[My wife] Diane comes home with a couple of big steaks and I thought 'Wow, this is great, I’m getting a big steak' and she said, 'No, it’s for Clover for doing such a great job,'" Randall joked.