Pet owners who have adopted a rescue animal often feel that they are the ones who have saved a life. Giving them a loving home, treating health problems with the right pet meds, making them a part of the family - these dogs and cats are certainly very lucky animals.
From time to time it happens, however, that an animal gives back even more than what it has been given. Here are three true stories of pets who have rescued their humans.
Sam and Merle
Sam Henderson was a 10 year-old Indiana boy who was innocently playing fetch with his golden retriever one winter when the stick he threw skittered across an icy pond. Merle, his 65-lbs. retriever, happily chased the stick out onto the ice. The ice cracked and the dog plunged into the icy water. Instinctively, Sam jumped in after her.
Luckily, neighbors heard him calling for help seconds later and dialed 911. Within a few minutes, both Sam and Merle were rescued by the fire department - but not before Merle earned credit for saving Sam's life.
According to witnesses, she stayed under the boy the whole time, pushing him up towards the surface from behind. It turned out that she was never in danger; Merle swam to shore on her own once Sam had been saved (Source: Sun Bear Squad http://www.sunbearsquad.org/stories.shtml#dogrescue).
The Teamwork of Ellie and Jones
Les Parsons was a 54 year-old diabetic who collapsed while he was out walking his two German shepherds, Ellie and Jones. Rather than prance nervously, whine, or just bark, the two dogs seemed to formulate an uncanny plan.
Ellie, the younger of the two dogs, stayed with Les and licked his face, keeping him from sinking totally into a coma. Meanwhile, Jones sprinted back home on his own. For Jones to return on his own was somewhat miraculous by itself; the dog had been a rescue himself and was terrified of being in open spaces alone. Nevertheless, he returned to the house and clawed at the back door until he got the attention of Les' wife and step-daughter. Then Jones led the ladies back to Les, where he was rushed to a hospital in the nick of time(Source: The Daily Mail http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1332601/Lassie-like-dogs-saved-owners-life-fell-coma-walking-them.html ).
Have Faith
There are plenty of stories of dogs who rescue their owners, but not many stories of dogs who rescue strangers. That's exactly what happened, however, when a stray pit bull stood over a woman who collapsed in the middle of a road.
The woman wasn't far from home when a heart condition caused her to pass out in the middle of a busy street. Out of nowhere, a pit bull rushed to her side and stood over her, barking at cars to keep them from hitting her. Hearing the honking horns, her husband came outside to see what was going on and immediately saw his fallen wife. He administered her medications to revive her and carried her home. The pit bull followed the couple, not leaving the woman's side even once they were inside the house. Happily, the stray dog, who was later named Faith, was adopted (Source: Leavenworth Times http://www.leavenworthtimes.com/opinions/local_columnists/x1739513795/Pet-Talk-Dog-saves-man-man-saves-dog).
Owners give their pets a lot, from a home and food to the right pet meds to keep them healthy.Sometimes owners gripe about how much it costs to care for a cat or a dog; even flea and tick pet meds can get expensive, after all. What most pet owners know, however, is that for all they give their animals, their animals give back even more. The price of pet meds seems a small price to pay in exchange for the unconditional love - and sometimes protection - a dog freely gives back to his owner.
