Dog Calls 911 After Owner Collapses

slodave · slodave's Garage

This brings a tear to my eye...

Quote:

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- A dog specially trained to call 911 when his owner suffers seizures grabbed the phone Wednesday morning and whimpered for help when the dispatcher answered, police said.

Chris Trott, a veteran police operator, said she heard a cry from Buddy, who she later discovered was an 18-month-old German shepherd.

Buddy's owner, Joe Stalnaker, was suffering one of his more severe seizures, said Sgt. Mark Clark of the Scottsdale Police Department.

Ten years ago, Stalnaker said he was in a military accident that severely injured part of his brain, leaving him prone to potentially fatal seizures.

He got Buddy when the dog was 8 weeks old through the help of Paws With a Cause, an assistance animal adoption service.

Stalnaker said trained the animal to recognize when he is having a seizure and respond by grabbing the phone and bringing it to him.

"He doesn't actually sit there and dial 911, but whenever he picks up the phone, one of his teeth inevitably hits the number, and if it's held down for more than three seconds, it dials the police department," Stalnaker said.

http://www.kpho.com/news/17467640/detail.html#-

Amazing how animals can sense these things. Skyler, my bird, knows when I am sick and doesn't bother me when I sleep on the couch. Not so for my normal naps - he chirps and makes sure I don't fall asleep.

KFC911 · 09-15-2008, 04:43 AM

I've always been amazed at how animals (mostly dogs in my own personal experience) can "sense" when things aren't "right" and act accordingly. Thanks for posting that!

onewhippedpuppy · 09-15-2008, 05:42 AM

Amazing. The stories are numerous, but it never ceases to impress me.

Rikao4 · 09-15-2008, 07:04 AM

Past 3 mornings on our walk Pascha has been very stubborn when we pass
'Rocky's' yard..Pascha had been going to his door..never did that before..
had to really pull her to get going.
Marge called Sat. morning..Rocky passed during the night.
She loved that guy.

Rika

speeder · speeder's Garage

Animals have senses that we don't have. I miss my GSD pretty badly, on Saturday I called the breeder that he came from in Spring, TX. to find out if the dogs and puppies were OK after the hurricane. (It's just north of Houston). They were fine, I'll get another as soon as possible/practical.

DARISC · 09-15-2008, 08:31 AM

Years ago one of my two cats went missing. Three days later my other cat, who had been prowling restlessly since his buddy disappeared, came bounding in from outside and jumped on my lap as I sat reading. He immediately jumped off, bounded to the front door, turned around and looked at me. My cats had their own cat door in the back door, so that was puzzling.

The cat bounded back, jumped on my lap and bounded back to the door where he again turned and looked at me, this time meowing, which he normally never did.

Puzzled. I went to the door, opened it and he bolted out, bounding down the walk to the stairs to the sidewalk where he again turned and looked at me. I walked to him and he then ran across the street to the T intersection corner and stood there waiting for me.

When I was halfway to him he then ran across the street and went into some brush under a palm tree on the edge of the canyon, again then turning and standing there looking at me, meowing loudly as I approached.

When I reached him I looked down and there in the weeds was the name tag and collar of his missing buddy.

The cat, a non-papered silver tipped Persion that one of my wife's friends had given her, had obviously been stolen and its collar tossed into the weeds.

Cats don't do such things, right? Mine did. Animals never cease to amaze me.

Don Plumley · Don Plumley's Garage

Dogs are great. I read this story in the paper and reached over to scratch my mutt between the ears.

RWebb · RWebb's Garage

That IS outstanding.

I know that if something happened to me, my Golden would immediately pick up the phone and call for a pizza delivery. Then, she would worry about "hey - what happened to my butler?"

slodave · slodave's Garage

I'm pretty sure that my bird would be pecking my eyes out.

Jeff Higgins · 09-16-2008, 06:53 AM

My dog would have started going through my pants pockets, looking for the car keys, or some change, or something.

scottmandue · 09-16-2008, 11:48 AM

Story I read somewhere, not sure if this is true:

A guy who lived out in the country that was diabetic went for a walk out in his field one night with his dogs. He had a diabetic seizure and fell to the ground. One of the dogs picked up his flashlight and flagged down a car passing by.