A Leawood, Kansas police officer was patrolling a neighborhood when he saw something peculiar: a small dog was walking alone in the middle of the road.
When the deputy hopped out of the car, the pup started barking at him as if he needed help.
The cop would soon learn why.
In a video posted by the Leawood Police Department, the dog is seen leading the cop straight down the block to their home, where the owner lay on the garage floor.
The cop immediately got the dog’s owner medical care, and after a brief stay in the hospital, they were able to continue healing at home.
Deputies would learn that before the owner’s dog saved the day, they were on the floor for three hours.
“Sometimes, our four-legged friends know exactly what to do,” a Facebook post by the Leawood Police Department reads. “Thanks to the resident’s loyal companion, our officer was able to find them and get them the help they needed.”
Other Hero Pets
Other brave pets have also made headlines for saving their owners.
Tristan the dog cemented his place in the family quick. The dog was adopted by Tod Hodgkin and his family a year and a half ago. Hodgkin suffers from seizures, which can be an emergency.
Sveral times since his rescue, Tristan alerted Todd’s mom that her son was having a seizure, allowing her to help Todd before he got hurt. Even more shocking, the dog had never been medically trained.
Cassie the Dog
In another case, Cassie, a 7-year-old bulldog, jumped between her owner and a bear who was attacking him.
As soon as she did, the bear mostly turned his attention to her.
The brave dog likely saved the life of her owner, Jeff Wilson, who had already sustained broken ribs, claw, and bite wounds from the attack.
But sadly, Cassie died from her injuries only two days later.
“Cassie was a deeply loved member of their family, and in the moment Jeff needed her most, this little dog courageously put herself between him and a bear,” friend Rachel Moscon wrote in a GoFundMe she started.
She will be remembered.
Dogs Protect Their Owners
Such behavior is not surprising — many dogs display protectiveness of their owners.
Per Haven Dog Training, one study found that 81.7% of dogs from shelters show aggression towards strangers, “a significant prevalence of protective behaviors among dogs.”
Other signs that your dog feels protective of you include following you, standing or sitting between a “perceived” threat, or a stiffened posture.