11-Year-Old Boy Stops Traffic To Rescue Dog Hit By Car (PHOTOS)

You don't need to be big to be a big hero.

For example, 11-year-old Jean Fernandes, a brave boy from Brazil, recently risked his life to save a dog that had been hit by a car in Itajaí, according to Brazilian news site Guarda-Sol.

The injured dog remained in the roadway after the driver who allegedly struck it drove off. Jean then ran between oncoming vehicles to pick up the helpless animal and bring it to safety, Brazilian outlet Globo Rural reports.

Jean's mother, Rubia Liliana Rose, told BioBioChile that her son loves animals and will rescue ones he finds abandoned or abused.

This incident, captured by photographer Rafaela Martins, drew praise from netizens after Brazil's News Agency of Animal Rights posted the story to its Facebook page on Monday.

"This little boy is already larger than many men," commented Aline Ropelli.

The dog -- identified as Honey, or Mel in Portuguese -- is still in the care of vets at a local animal control center but is doing just fine, according to BioBioChile