Auggie had been with his new owner, Keena Pratt, for just a month when the dog saved her life.
Was he showing his gratitude that she took him from the shelter?
A dog from an animal shelter will always be grateful - you've probably heard this or a similar saying before.
But South Carolina's Keena Pratt has a story to match.
The 51-year-old adopted Auggie, a medium-sized mixed breed male, and he saved her life less than four weeks later.
Check out this post on Instagram
A post shared by Keenalynn Pratt (@keenapratt)
Other animals have also saved the lives of their owners, such as a horse that supported its rider, or a sled dog that spent hours warming its owner in the snow.
Dog saves his owner's life
The American told Newsweek
her
story.
She was visiting her parents for a few days with her husband and new family member Auggie.
One morning she woke up feeling weird: "I went to the bathroom, but I just kept getting worse and worse." According to
Newsweek
, Pratt sat on the toilet with her head against the vanity: "I kept dozing off and woke up again - at least that's what I thought.
In one waking moment, I thought I saw Auggie.
But he disappeared again very quickly.”
As it turned out, the male followed his mistress into the bathroom and then made his way to Keena's husband.
"I guess Auggie was acting so weird that my husband came along and found me," Pratt continues.
After even a candy soda didn't help, an ambulance was called and the 51-year-old was taken to the hospital.
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"He felt something was wrong" - Dog saved his owner
To this day, Keena Pratt does not remember the ride in the ambulance: “Everything happened early in the morning, but I didn’t really come to myself until around two in the afternoon.
At the hospital I was then told that my electrolyte levels were dangerously low and that I also had a serious urethral infection.” Pratt had to stay in the hospital for three days, unfortunately Auggie wasn't allowed to join her.
Things were different for Brian Benson from New York, who was allowed to accompany his therapy dog Magnus.
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It is well known and partially confirmed by studies that dogs not only react to the feelings of their owners, but can also recognize when they are not feeling well.
The animals are helped by their fine perception of changes in behavior and body odor.
For example, there are assistance dogs for diabetics or people suffering from epilepsy.
Keena Pratt also believes Auggie knew she was in trouble.
She told
Newsweek
, "I definitely think Auggie sensed something was really wrong with me." What would have happened without the dog?
Neither she nor her husband want to think about it.
+
It is said that dogs from shelters are forever grateful to their new owners.
Is that why Auggie saved his owner's life?
(icon picture)
© Westend61/Imago
Dog love - strong bond between animal and owner
Check out this post on Instagram
A post shared by Keenalynn Pratt (@keenapratt)
Maybe Auggie wanted to show his gratitude that the Pratts took him out of the shelter, to show them his love.
It is difficult to prove whether this was really the case.
But there is no doubt that the dog loves his new family.
“He is so loving to my husband and I and loves to cuddle.
But he also protects us - especially me," Keena told Newsweek.
However, this is not always easy in everyday life.
That's why they're now working with a dog trainer on Auggie's protective behavior: "But we'd never give him away again, he's my little lifesaver!".
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