Dog saves owner's life with bravery after he fell and got stuck in freezing snow

Animals are the best companions humans can ask for in their lifetime. They give unconditional love to their humans. Bob from Michigan understood this when six years ago, he got stuck in snow, per Independent. He was experiencing the worst conditions of his life and all he had was his beloved dog by his side. The dog not only tried to get help by inviting attention through barking but also put herself in danger. The dog laid on her owner to ensure that her body heat helped him survive.

Bob, on New Year's Eve, ventured outside his home alone to collect firewood and had no idea about the tragedy that was awaiting him. The man thought that his outing would only be a few meters, so he was donning only long johns, a shirt and slippers even though the temperature was -4°C. He broke his neck on this outing and got stuck in the snow all alone. It was a dangerous predicament for him because he was turning hypothermic. During such difficult times, only his dog, Kelsey, came to his rescue after hearing the screams.

Bob reminisced, “I was screaming for help, but my nearest neighbor is about a quarter mile away and it was 10:30 pm, but my Kelsey came.” Kelsey was a five-year-old golden retriever living with Bob. He was her caretaker and she had developed a lot of affection for him. To save Bob, she laid on top of him to transfer body heat. She continued licking his hand and face to keep him awake. Not only was she lying on top of him at such a low temperature, but she was also continuously barking to ask for help. Bob shared, “She kept barking for help but never left my side. She kept me warm and alert. I knew I had to persevere through this and that it was my choice to stay alive."

At one point, Bob's voice gave up, but Kelsey continued. Finally, she succeeded in alerting their neighbor at 6:30 pm the next day. They immediately took Rob to the hospital, where his temperature was below 21°C. It was well below 35 °C, which is the borderline for hypothermia. “I was surprised to find out that I didn’t have any frostbite,” said Bob, “I am sure it was because Kelsey was determined to keep me warm and safe.”

Chaim Colen, MD, a neurosurgeon at McLaren Northern Michigan Hospital, who treated him, was happy to see Bob make quick progress. “Most people with spinal cord injuries, they don’t move,” Dr. Colen told Petoskey News, “It’s tragic and when it’s done, it’s done. I don’t know if it was the cold temperatures that may have helped him or the fact he was lying down on the snow the way he was.” The doctor also gave credit to the dog for keeping Bob's zeal for life alive. Bob was immensely thankful for Kelsey's courage and love for him. He shared, “I am so thankful for my two heroes. Kelsey kept me warm, and alert and never stopped barking for help. Dr. Colen saved my life and ability to move. They are truly heroes and I will be eternally grateful.”

Such stories of animals sharing a deep connection with their humans are nothing new. Their instinct oftentimes surpasses science. Just like Kelsey kept barking to protect Bob, Sugar who belonged to Noah, slept on a cot in front of her human's room when she realized that he was going through a huge predicament. Even though people around him were sure that it was just the flu, Sugar knew it was something more and did not leave the front of the door. Jun Song, Noah's mother, shared on X, "Sugar knew. She definitely knew that Noah needed help."