After enjoying a night on the town, Chris Eschenburg returned to his New Orleans home late on the evening of July 2, 1995.  As he approached his door, a man stuck a gun in his back and forced him into the home. Chris was petrified, not only for himself but for his four-year-old four-footed child, Oskar (some sources spell it as “Oscar.”) The brown Labrador retriever was always there to enthusiastically greet him, and Chris feared his beloved pooch would startle the intruder and cause him to shoot one or both of them.

But as Chris entered the home, Oskar the welcome dog was silent as a mouse and as hidden as a chameleon. Then the gunman entered and ordered Chris to his knees. As he complied, Oskar emerged from a side room and attacked the robber, biting him on his arm. A gunshot went off, and the gun fell to the ground. The intruder was eventually able to break away from Oskar; in the process of his struggle, he hit Chris on his face. Chris was momentarily dazed but not seriously injured. By the time he regained his composure, the culprit was gone.

After finding Oskar bloodied, Chris feared his best friend had been hit by the bullet. Upon examination, however, he was relieved to see his baby was fine. The blood was of the intruder, caused from the wounds inflicted by Oskar. Some articles state the intruder was caught soon thereafter, but others say he was never identified.

Chris (Person) and Oskar (Pooch) Eschenburg

The 1995 Ken-L-Ration Reward for Dog Hero of the Year went to . . . Oskar Eschenburg of New Orleans, Louisiana.  I could not find any subsequent information about Oskar. Hopefully, the courageous canine who quite possibly saved his owner’s life, went on to have a great life.

Are dogs somehow able to sense when their people are in danger? Oskar seemed to know that the intruder had nefarious intentions and sprang into action.

If you have a similar story of a pet doing something courageous or remarkable, please share it.

Awesome Oskar

SOURCES:

• “Hero Dogs”
• New Orleans Times-Picayune
• Unsolved Mysteries