Domestic violence against women and children is a huge problem around the world. In just the U.S. alone, over 324,000 women admit to being abused by their partners every year. The old rule of thumb is whatever is admitted is usually only a small fraction of the truth. There are shelters set up to take these women in but the need is great. Many times a woman will stay with an abusive partner because they have pets and pets are not allowed to go with them to these shelters. It has been estimated to be up to 40% of women who stay in an abusive situation because they don't want to leave their pets behind.

Recently in St. Louis, Mo., a woman was attacked by her boyfriend who tried to kill her with a hammer. As he was striking her, the woman's Great Dane jumped on top of her to take the blows himself. Since the boyfriend couldn't get to the woman, he then threw them both out of a 2nd story window. The heroic Great Dane suffered multiple broken bones in the attack but he saved his owner’s life in the process.

Despite their injuries the woman was able to escape with her dog and made her way to the Rose Brooks Center. When they offered her a bed and told her no pets were allowed, she was very defiant about leaving her dog behind who had just saved her life. For the first time in its history, the shelter overlooked regulations and allowed the dog to stay. Today there are big changes going on at the Rose Brooks Center. They are building a pet center there where women can come and bring their pets too. All because of a fateful day and one very heroic dog.