Lulu: The Pig Who Stopped Traffic to Save Her Owner
Lulu was a pot-bellied pig who saved her owner's life in 1998. When Jo Ann Altsman collapsed with a heart attack in a vacation trailer near Lake Erie, Lulu went out to the road, lay down in front of the traffic and kept at it until a driver stopped and followed her back.
Quick Facts
- Who: Lulu, a Vietnamese pot-bellied pig
- Where: Near Presque Isle on Lake Erie, Pennsylvania
- When: August 1998
- Saved: Her owner, Jo Ann Altsman, during a heart attack
- How: She lay down in the road until a driver stopped, then led him to the trailer
Alone in the Trailer
Jo Ann Altsman was on vacation in a trailer by Lake Erie with Lulu, her daughter's pig, whom she and her husband were looking after. On August 4, while her husband was away fishing, she collapsed with a heart attack. She shouted for help and even threw an alarm clock through the window, but nobody was around to hear.
What Did Lulu Do?
Lulu squeezed out through the small dog door, pushed open the gate and walked into the road. Then she lay down in the path of the traffic. Cars drove around her. She went back to the trailer to check on Jo Ann, then returned to the road and lay down again, over and over.
At last a driver stopped and got out. Lulu led him to the trailer, he found Jo Ann and he called for help.
Fifteen Minutes
Jo Ann was rushed to hospital and had heart surgery. The family later said doctors told them that fifteen more minutes and she would not have survived. Lulu became famous, appeared on national television and received the ASPCA's gold hero medal in New York.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the story of Lulu the pig true?
Yes. It was reported by newspapers at the time, including the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and the Associated Press.
How did Lulu save her owner?
She lay down in the road until a driver stopped, then led him to the trailer where her owner had collapsed.
What kind of pig was Lulu?
She was a Vietnamese pot-bellied pig.
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Sources
- Deseret News (AP), 1998: the rescue as reported at the time
- The Spokesman-Review, 1999: follow-up on Lulu and Jo Ann
- American Archive of Public Broadcasting (WQED): Jo Ann Altsman's account
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Cover photo: Just chaos via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.