Hero dog loses a leg after jumping up and taking a bullet in doomed bid to save its elderly owners from armed robbers in South Africa

• Dog Merie attempted to save her owners during a break-in at their home 
• The pet took a bullet as she put herself in between them and armed robbers
• Merie survived the attack but has since had her right front leg amputated

A hero dog has lost her leg after she attempted to save her elderly owners from armed robbers in South Africa and took a bullet in the leg.

Merie was once a street dog but rescued by the elderly couple and taken in by the family in Cape Town.

And when armed intruders broke into the house she tried to repay her owners by protecting them from the hail of gunfire.

Pet Merie, who jumped up to protect her owners when their home was raided by armed robbers. She took a bullet in the right leg, which had to be amputated 

She was struck in her right front leg after she began barking and howling in a bid to rattle the men, who fled.

Unfortunately her elderly owners did not survive the attack but their adult children managed to escape.

After saving her life, vets battled to save the damaged leg but it had to be amputated.

Merie then spent 10 days in intensive care where during her stay she left her mark on animal welfare staff with her 'sweet, gentle nature, courage and enormous spirit.'

Now she is being cared for by the adult children she saved during the break-in.

Source: Dailymail