We know our pets keep us healthy (daily walks with the dog get us off the couch, and snuggling up with your pet can be a great stress-reliever) but did you know your pet has the potential to literally save your life? Earlier this week I attended Purina's annual Animal Hall of Fame ceremony in Toronto, where I listened in on four incredible stories that show how loyal, hard-working and tuned in our pets can be.
Here are their incredible stories:
Nanook, St. Catherines, ON
(CNW Group/Purina Animal Hall of Fame)
Siberian Husky cross, Nanook, was just a puppy when she woke owner Coleen as she neared a heart attack during the middle of the night. While Coleen and husband Gord tried to sleep, Nanook circled the bed, howled, barked and licked their faces. When she awoke, nurse Coleen noticed pain in her arm, and began to feel pressure in her chest, quickly realizing she was having a heart attack. Gord called an ambulance and by 11a.m. that morning, Coleen had been through surgery to place three stents in her heart.
Monty, Camrose, AB
(CNW Group/Purina Animal Hall of Fame)
Last March, in the middle of the night, orange tabby Monty acted unusually. Owner Patricia Peters woke up to her cat biting her fingers, and when she got up to put Monty on the floor she suddenly felt very dizzy. Newly-diagnosed with diabetes, Patricia slowly made her way into the kitchen to check her blood sugar, with Monty leading the way down the hall. When the pair got to the kitchen, Monty leaped to the counter and sat beside her blood testing kit. Seeing her blood sugar at a dangerously low level, Patricia took sugar tablets, then waited 15 minutes to re-test her blood. Monty sat with Patricia as she waited and when she re-tested her blood, it was back to normal. Patricia and her doctor credit Monty with saving her from slipping into a diabetic coma as she slept.
Bree, Blissfield, NB
(CNW Group/Purina Animal Hall of Fame)
Sleep never seemed to come easy to two-year-old dachshund, Bree. Owner Michele said she remembers waking up often to Bree's little snout in her face, or to Bree licking her face in the middle of the night. Last September, Michele woke to Bree sitting on her chest who also frantically forced her snout in to Michele's mouth. At that moment, Michele realized she was having a very hard time breathing and felt like she was drowning. Her husband called an ambulance, and when it arrived Michele was put on oxygen, and discovered her blood pressure was dangerously high. At the hospital, Michele learned she had severe sleep apnea, and that every night, little Bree had been waking her up to help her resume breathing again.
Service Dog of the Year: Titan, Oakville, ON
(CNW Group/Purina Animal Hall of Fame)
One stormy night last year, a woman called 9-1-1 and told the operator she had just gone to a wooded area, purposefully overdosed on medication with the intention to end her life. While the operator spoke to her on the phone, and tracked her general location, Constable Tara McLorn and Police Service Dog Titan raced to the woods in attempt to reach the woman before it was too late. Through high winds and torrential rainfall, Titan worked quickly to find the woman's clothes at the side of a river bank. With a stronger scent to track, Titan led Constable McLorn and her team to the woman, and they were able to help her from the water, just as the effects of the drugs began to take their course. The woman was rushed to the hospital and was saved from the overdose and treated for hypothermia. Tara credits Titan's fast action and direction with saving the woman's life that night.
Each of these animals are now recognized as one of Canada's most heroic pets, have their photo and story added to the Walk of Fame, located at Pawsway in Toronto.
In 1968 Purina began recognizing the life-saving heroics of Canadian pets, and this year added dogs Nanook, Bree and Titan, along with orange cat Monty. So far, 128 dogs, 26 cats and one horse have been inducted into the Purina Animal Hall of Fame.
Tell us: What does your pet do to make you feel better? My dog Bink is so enthusiastic about getting outside and moving around, it's contagious. I certainly spend less time on the couch and more time outdoors since bringing him home.
Plus, I do love chocolate, sparkling wine and candles.
