Heroic Rescue Dog Saves New Owner’s Life by Dragging Him After He Suffered a Stroke

Courtesy of Ramapo-Bergen Animal Refuge

When a man from New Jersey rescued a German shepherd from a shelter, little did he know the canine he gave a second chance at life to would return the favor by helping save his life one day.

On Jan. 16, 2021, Brian Myers, 59, suffered a stroke and collapsed on the floor of his bedroom. However, instead of just watching him lay on the floor, 6-year-old Sadie, who was rescued from Ramapo-Bergen Animal Refuge, sprang into immediate action to help him.

6-year-old German shepherd, Sadie. Courtesy of Ramapo-Bergen Animal Refuge

Not leaving her owner’s side, Sadie sat beside him and kept licking his face to keep him awake.

“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 some how instinctively knew to help me by pulling her body weight,” Myers said, according to WABC.

The loyal dog pulled Myers enough to give him the strength to get out of the corner that he was stuck in.

Sadie then dragged Myers across the room so he could reach his phone and call for help, according to CBS.

Due to Sadie’s quick thinking, Brian was rushed in time to Englewood Health, where he spent a couple of weeks in recovery. However, unable to separate from Sadie, the two would FaceTime each other while Sadie lived with the family.

“I was very lucky to have her the night that I had the stroke,” Myers later told the news outlet.

Brian Myers with his dog, Sadie. Courtesy of Ramapo-Bergen Animal Refuge

Recalling Sadie’s heroic action, Myers added that he doesn’t believe Sadie has ever had training as a service dog.

Myers had adopted Sadie in October 2020. According to a Facebook post by Ramapo-Bergen Animal Refuge, the dog had been surrendered at the shelter as the previous owner was moving. “She was confused and seemingly lost upon rescue, having suddenly lost the only family that she knew,” the shelter wrote. “Sadie is a loyal dog, but nervous and protective with new people, making her a more difficult placement.

“Though her bio noted that she was especially nervous with men, Brian felt a special bond with Sadie, as he valued her intelligence, hesitancy to trust, and fierce loyalty once she did form that trust,” the shelter added.

Myers believed that he could work through her issues after he gave Sadie a second chance.

Courtesy of Ramapo-Bergen Animal Refuge

Over the months, the two seemed to share a unique, special bond, and eventually, Sadie’s protectiveness paid off when Myers needed her the most.

After a couple of weeks of treatment at the hospital, when Myers was released from Englewood Health, he received a visit from Sadie, who was absolutely thrilled to see him.

“She just immediately jumped on me and was kissing my face, knocked my glasses and my mask off, and I just thought, I love this dog,” Myers told CBS.

Sadie and Brian when they were reunited with each other. Courtesy of Ramapo-Bergen Animal Refuge

Brandon Goldstein, social media manager at Ramapo-Bergen Animal Refuge, shared an update with The Epoch Times that Myers and Sadie are both currently doing well.

“Physical therapy challenges [Brian], but he pushes himself to improve more and more each day,” Brandon said. “Sadie has settled in and is her loving, cheerful self now that she knows Brian is back with her.”

Brandon also added that Myers hasn’t yet been able to walk Sadie on his own, but he’s starting to be able to take long walks on his own with the help from rehab and physical therapy.

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