When we lived in Tomball, I picked up a copy of Coffee News at a barbershop. It gave me something to read while Mitch got a haircut. Have you seen this publication?
Coffee News is a free weekly publication found in restaurants, coffee shops, and such. It features ads and coupons for local businesses. It also has news, weather reports, sports schedules, jokes and riddles, and horoscopes.
As I scanned a column called “Everybody’s Talking,” I found a fascinating story about a dog named Buddy. It was old news, really. The events in the story had occurred a few years before.
But the story piqued my curiosity and I wanted to know more. So back at home, I did a little online research. Here’s what I learned.
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Hero Dog Saves Owner’s Life
The Associated Press (AP) was one of the first sources I found online. On September 14, 2008, the AP issued a report. It began something like this: “’Man’s best friend’ does not go far enough for a dog named Buddy.”
The “best friend” was Buddy, a German Shepherd like the dogs pictured on this page. And he saved the life of his owner, Joe Stalnaker. How? By using a special phone to call an ambulance to their Scottsdale, Arizona home.
What’s more, it wasn’t the first time he made a 911 call. Buddy the Hero Dog came to his owner’s rescue twice before!
Paws With a Cause
Stalnaker is a United States Army veteran. He suffers from life-threatening seizures caused by a head injury. Lucky for Stalnaker, Buddy knows just what to do when his owner has a seizure.
Stalnaker adopted Buddy as an eight-week-old puppy. With training, the dog learned how recognize Stalnaker’s seizure symptoms and dial 911.
Buddy doesn’t actually dial the numbers 9-1-1. When he grabs the phone with his mouth, his teeth hit a programmed speed dial for the emergency number. It’s all part of his training by Paws With a Cause (PAWS).
The Michigan-based organization trains dogs to help people with disabilities. The staff trains service dogs, assistance dogs, hearing dogs, and seizure response dogs like Buddy. Lifetime team support encourages independent living.
An Incredible Rescue
The Scottsdale police released a recording of the 911 call after the story broke. “Buddy is heard whimpering and barking after the dispatcher answers,” the report said.
The police are always dispatched when someone dials 911. But they’ve flagged Stalnaker’s address in the emergency system. It notes that a dog dials 911 when his owner cannot reach the phone.
“It’s pretty incredible,” said police sergeant Mark Clark. “Even the veteran dispatchers – they haven’t heard of anything like this.”
After two days in the hospital, Stalnaker recovered from the seizure that spurred Buddy into action. He is grateful for his faithful companion and lifesaver. Without Buddy, he could not live an independent life due to his disability.
“He knows what to do,” Stalnaker said. “He’s looking after me.”
Now It’s Your Turn
Thank you for reading my post. Now it’s YOUR turn to chime in. Do you know a good hero dog story? What has your pet done for you lately?
Let’s fill the comments with friendly conversation. Scroll down to leave a remark, ask a question, or just say hello. And if you liked this post, give it a share.
Blessings, Annette
NOTE – You are reading “Buddy the Hero Dog Dials 911 – and Saves the Day!” A version of this post appeared on HubPages in February 2014. It has been updated for the Savoring Home community.
Photo Sources
- Getty Images | Canva | License
- Getty Images Pro | Canva
Reference Sources
