A dog who saved her owners from Hamas gunmen as they ravaged the family’s home has died as a result of injuries she sustained as part of the attack.
Petel was injured by gunfire when terrorists launched their October 7 assault on Kibbutz Be’eri.
She had been treated and had just returned to be with the Ben-Zvi family when she died.
Speaking to Ynet on Monday Ella Ben-Zvi said: “She went through a lot and used up a lot of energy in her rehabilitation and recovery. A few people told us that she held on a little longer in order to be with us, and then let go.”
Petel saved the family on October 7 by barking non stop when the terrorists entered the family home.
Ben-Zvi explained that Petel charged at the door and began “barking hysterically.
“Petel was barking like mad,” she said.
Her barking was made louder thanks to the baby monitor that was left on and reverberated around the house.
“The terrorists heard the dog in stereo,” Ben-Zvi said. “I can only assume that the scene was too challenging for them and they decided to leave the home.”
The family sheltered in their safe room until the IDF arrived.
When soldiers arrived to rescue the family they were unable to take Petel with them because she was too scared to leave due to the continuing gun fire.
She was too big to carry so they put her into a bedroom with some water while the family was evacuated.
The family later found out Petel had been injured when soldiers checked homes in the kibbutz.
Petel was treated at the scene and was recovering at home[Missing Credit]
They heard the much-loved dog making a noise and mistook her for a terrorist and sadly she was hit by shrapnel.
She was treated immediately at the scene and eventually underwent surgery and had been recovering.
Petel saved the family with her loud barking[Missing Credit]
The 11-year-old dog was reunited with the Ben-Zvi family in March. They are living in Givat Ela in the north of the country.
Petel (the name means raspberry) “received a lot of love, hugs and pets,” said Ben Zvi.
“But she was an older dog…and she went through a lot and spent a lot of energy on her rehabilitation and recovery,” she added. “There were several people who told us that she held on a little longer to be with us, and then she let go.”
