Tears of Joy: German Shepherd Reunites with Owner She Saved during Life-Threatening Stroke
The reunion between Brian Myers and the dog he saved several months before was even more moving than when they first met – a meeting that ultimately ended up saving Myers’ life.
Myers adopted his 6-year-old German shepherd named Sadie from Ramapo-Bergen Animal Refuge in New Jersey, even though the shelter staff struggled to find her a home due to her being skittish around men and defensive.
“[She was] a little standoffish when she first came and she wasn’t sure what was going on,” Heather Centrella, the front office manager at Ramapo-Bergen Animal Refuge, told The Dodo. “She became a little bit shut-down in the shelter, so we knew she was going to need an experienced home with someone who was patient.”
Myers needed only half an hour to make up his mind that he wanted to take Sadie home with him after they had their first encounter.
The difficulties she was expected to have experienced with males appeared to vanish.
“She jumped into my car and we’ve developed a strong bond. I was able to work through the issues she had and committed to giving her the home and love she deserved,” Myers said in a Facebook post.
“She kept licking me and crying, so I reached my right hand up to pet her, then I grabbed her collar,” Myers told The Washington Post.
Myers was unaware that Sadie would be the one to come to his rescue a few months later.
Myers and his partner were spending a usual evening in their home when he was abruptly struck by a stroke. His left side had lost all sensation, and he felt nothing between the bed and the wall.“It was really frightening — I couldn’t get up and I didn’t realize at that moment that I’d had a stroke,” Myers said. “My cellphone was on the dresser about 15 feet away, but there was no way I could get to it.”
Sadie quickly reacted by giving her father’s face a few enthusiastic licks in an attempt to bring him back to consciousness.
The dog steadfastly stayed by his side, unwilling to depart.
Myers attempted to take hold of her collar, yet was astonished by the result that followed. The dog kept on howling for help in the expectation that the neighbors would be able to hear her.
Sadie put in all her might to pull her dad nearer to the phone by dragging him through the room.
“She was not trained as a service dog, but she was in distress over what was happening and she could tell that I was in trouble,” he said. “I don’t know how she did it, but she knew.”
Myers was able to get to his phone and ask for assistance. Medical staff at the hospital informed Myers that Sadie had likely been instrumental in preserving his life.
Myer’s family provided a home for Sadie while her dad was in the hospital and then in rehabilitation.
“They do FaceTime, which he said she’s a little confused by because she wants to get at her dad and she cries,” Centrella said. “But he reassures her that he’s doing everything he can to get home to her as soon as possible so they can be reunited.”
On the day it came, it was a tremendously joyous occasion.
Myers wept as Sadie joyfully embraced him and showered his face with kisses.
“It was the best decision I’d ever made to adopt her,” said Myers. “I really feel it was meant to be.”
YOU CAN WATCH SADIE AND HER DAD BE REUNITED IN THE VIDEO BELOW.
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