The loyal Labrador who gained international fame braving traffic to guard a dead companion has been claimed by a possible owner.



An unidentified southern California woman has stepped forward to say she owns the hero hound – nicknamed Grace – who stood vigil over a motionless yellow Lab in a video released Saturday, officials said.



The woman had a personal photo of the brave black Lab and correctly described body markings "that only the owner would know," Lt. Marie Rosales of the County of Los Angeles Department of Animal Care and Control told reporters Monday.



"(Grace) did respond immediately (to her). If any of you saw her this morning, she was timid…But as soon as she heard the person who claimed to be her owner's voice, she lit up and started wagging her tail," Rosales said.



A female with big brown puppy-dog eyes, Grace was expected to remain at the Baldwin Park Animal Care Center overnight pending an inspection of the purported owner's house, Rosales said.



"We have to ensure that's she's going to go back to an adequate home," she said.



The owner, who reported owning Grace for about three months, will be cited for having an unleashed, unvaccinated, unregistered dog, she said.



Estimated at between one and two years old, Grace apparently escaped from the owner's garage and was in heat at the time she was spayed Monday, Rosales said.



The courageous canine had been up for adoption but is expected to be released to the self-described owner as early as Tuesday, officials said.



Video of Grace watching over her recently deceased companion was shot by a motorist who saw the dogs on a La Puente, Calif., street Wednesday morning.



The Good Samaritan put down traffic cones to alert other drivers.



Rosales said it's not clear who owned the fatally struck yellow Lab.



ndillon@nydailynews.com



- With News Wire Services