A brave Australian farm dog is being hailed a hero after helping to save a flock of sheep from the devastating bushfires.
The six-year-old kelpie-border collie cross, Patsy, now has her own Instagram account, where the story of her heroic actions is spreading across the world
In a Facebook post, farmer Cath Hill explained how the dog helped to round up the sheep to safety as the flames got closer on the farm at Corryong in Victoria.
"Allow me to introduce Patsy the wonder dog. While fire in Corryong was bearing down on them, she and my brother rounded up the sheep and brought them to the safest paddock on the farm. She then found a safe spot while my brother fought the fire with a tractor and a tank of water. Almost all sheep are safe, along with the hay bales and silage, the shearing shed, and both farm houses. My brother doesn't do social media, but Patsy does. Great job little girl."
In a video, Hill can be heard saying "Hey Patsy, can you hear those sheep?"
"That's all your work, well done. You little champion, good girl."
Thousands of positive comments on Patsy's Instagram account have been acknowledged with a plea to donate to bushfire recovery groups.
"Patsy and her human really appreciate all the support coming from all over the world, but unfortunately these fires aren't over and won't be for weeks.
"And the recovery from the fire damage will take months, years even."
It's estimated that the Australian bushfires have killed up to half-a-million animals, including livestock.
Thousands of cattle, sheep and horses have been killed in the fires and some farmers had been forced to euthanise hundreds more.
