A 6-year-old German Shepherd adopted from a shelter paid back his new owner’s kindness by saving the man’s life! Brian Myers was released from the hospital Tuesday after suffering a stroke on Jan. 16, and he could have died if it hadn’t been for his dog Sadie. Myers collapsed on the floor of his New Jersey home and was unable to get back up. Speaking with ABC 7, he recounted how Sadie saved his life.
After Myers collapsed, Sadie immediately rushed to his side and kept licking his face. As she stood there watching over Myers, he began to formulate a plan. Perhaps he could use Sadie to help him cross the room and reach his cellphone.
"I thought maybe I could use her as a counterweight to get myself up off the floor, and I grabbed her collar to try to do so, and she somehow instinctively knew to help me by pulling her body weight and pulling me enough to give me the momentum to get myself out of the corner that I was stuck in," he said.
Myers and Sadie developed a bond almost instantly, when he adopted her in October. The German shepherd was surrendered to Ramapo-Bergen Animal Refuge Inc. by her previous owner who had moved and was unable to take care of her. The animal shelter explained in a Facebook post that Sadie was "confused" and "seemingly lost" upon her rescue and was nervous of new people. That didn't deter Myers.
"I sensed that she was a great dog and I decided to adopt her in the first 30 minutes," Myers recalled. "She jumped into my car and we've developed a strong bond. I was able to work through the issues she had and committed to give her the home and love she deserved. It was the best decision I could have made because she is amazingly loving and my best friend."
Sadie was staying with family while Myers recovered at a rehabilitation center and on Tuesday the pair were finally reunited. Now Sadie is being honored with a Heroic Dog Award from PETA.
"Sadie's intelligence and tenacity saved Brian's life," says PETA Vice President Colleen O'Brien. "Her heroism reminds us that many loving, dedicated dogs are waiting in shelters for a family to join, and PETA encourages anyone with the ability and resources to care for an animal to adopt one from a local shelter."
Zoe Papadakis ✉
Zoe Papadakis is a Newsmax writer based in South Africa with two decades of experience specializing in media and entertainment. She has been in the news industry as a reporter, writer and editor for newspapers, magazine and websites.
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