In a heartwarming incident in Sparta, Michigan, a routine morning walk turned into a lifesaving mission thanks to the keen instincts of a beloved Great Dane named Sadie. Rob Jerry, Sadie’s owner, was startled when his usually obedient canine refused to budge from the bottom of a neighbor’s driveway.

Sadie was acting oddly. She just stood in the driveway as if she were frozen in place,” Jerry said.

However, Sadie’s behavior wasn’t just an unusual quirk. Sensing something amiss, Jerry listened intently and heard faint cries for help. “I heard something but I thought it sounded more like a deer grunt and she’s just sitting there looking,” Jerry said.

Albert Larson talks about his experience after falling on his driveway. Photo courtesy of Woods TV8/YouTube

“Then I listened for a couple of seconds and heard it wasn’t a grunt, it was a ‘help’”, he said. The noise turned out to be the desperate plea of his 89-year-old neighbor, Albert Larson, who had slipped on ice while retrieving his morning newspaper. Larson said he attempted to make his way back to the house, but grew exhausted from the effort. All he could do was hope someone would hear him.

Albert had been lying helpless for at least an hour, his clothes freezing to the ground as he awaited assistance. Fortunately, Sadie’s vigilant stance alerted Jerry to the situation, prompting him to rush to Larson’s aid. “He tried dragging himself up the driveway, but he quickly tired because of the pain, the cold weather, and the length of the driveway,” Jerry observed. Larson later said that after the fall, “I just couldn’t move, and said ‘oh my.'”

Larson was able to laugh about his situation, however dire. “(Jerry) found me laying there and he said ‘what’s up’ and I said, ‘I wish I was up,'” he joked to his neighbor. Thanks to Sadie’s intervention, Albert received the urgent medical attention he needed, ultimately recovering from a broken hip and bruising.

Rob Jerry hugs his dog, Sadie, who helped rescue their neighbor. Photo courtesy of Woods TV8/YouTube

Reflecting on the incident, Albert’s wife, Lucille, expressed immense gratitude for Sadie’s timely intervention, emphasizing the profound impact it had on their lives, and how grateful they were for the dog’s heroic actions. “(Sadie) saved him,” his wife said.

“I couldn’t imagine my life without Albert,” she said, pointing out the significance of his recovery, especially as they were approaching their remarkable 69th wedding anniversary. As family and friends celebrated Larson’s recuperation, one thing was clear – man’s best friend, with her sharp senses and loyalty, had definitely earned herself a big bone after this adventure.

Sources: Madly Odd | The Animal Club