A dog that was rescued from death row at an American animal shelter has repaid its owner by pulling her from the path of an oncoming train.

LILLY the American pit bull was with her owner when she collapsed on the tracks in Massachusetts.

When she saw the train bearing down LILLY managed to drag the woman out of the way, then put herself between the train and her mistress.

8-year-old LILLY took the full brunt of the hit.

Her owner is ok but LILLY's been very badly hurt.

She’s lost a leg but after marathon surgery her vet thinks she'll survive.

Check out the report from Massachusetts TV station KSDK here.