The dog days of summer didn’t stop a heroic dog in Pennsylvania who is credited with saving his human last week.
The quick-thinking golden retriever raced for help when his owner fell 20 feet down a slope in the Pittsburgh area and was unable to get back up after suffering a serious hip injury, officials said.
The heroic pup sprung into action Thursday afternoon after he saw his owner fall down the hill in a wooded area. He ran over to neighbors and “advised them that help was needed,” emergency services said.
The neighbors then called for help – leading to a grueling rescue by first responders with Ross/West View EMSA.
When EMS workers reached the scene, the injured father dog was stabilized and treated for pain while still lying at the bottom of the hill, emergency services said in an online post.
A rope system was then set up to safely free the man and take him to a local trauma center where he was treated for a “significant” hip injury.
Pictures taken at the scene show the rope used in the rescue tied to a Ross/West View trailer and the injured man on a stretcher as he was attended to by several emergency personnel and medics.
The hero dog is also seen waiting for his owner to be taken back to safety.
“A special thank you to this patient’s dog who alerted neighbors that help was needed,” Ross/West View EMSA wrote. “The puppy refused to leave the scene until the patient was safely up and transported.
“He was rewarded with some treats and a big bowl of water on this hot day!”
Ross/West View EMSA covers the greater Pittsburgh area and provides medical and emergency services to more than 54,000 people over 25 square miles.