A 13-year-old rescue dog saved her 84-year-old owner by leading deputies to the injured man in his own home, according to authorities.
The incident occurred on September 25 when Deputy Wright of the Stevens County Sheriff’s Office in Washington was patrolling a rural wooded area and came across a dog — later named Gita — just sitting in the middle of the roadway with no residences or people nearby, according to a statement released by the Stevens County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday.
“Wright attempted to bring the dog into his vehicle so he could try to find the owner, but the dog refused to enter. Wright searched the nearby area dwellings within a mile but could not discover the owner,” officials added.
Wright returned to the dog, which was now lying on the centerline of the road, after sensing something was wrong, according to authorities. “He tried to get the dog off the road, but it took off up a lightly traveled, unmarked route. Wright followed the dog, which took him to a modest vacation cabin, investigators said.
Wright began looking around the neighborhood and discovered an old man down on the ground crying for aid just a short distance from the cabin.
“The 84-year-old man, who also had other medical issues that required daily medication, fell and damaged his leg. He had been lying there for hours and could have had catastrophic implications if he hadn’t been discovered,” police said.
The man’s dog, Gita, is “a 13-year-old rescue dog and best friend of the gentleman in trouble,” according to the Steven County Sheriff’s Office.
“We thank Gita for saving his life that day. The love and heroism of our canine companions never cease to amaze us,” authorities stated.