Small Dog, Big Hero: Dog Alerts Neighbors After Owner Collapses

08/10/2010

 

This week at Animal Planet it’s all about small dogs that are in charge, and Missy the amazingly wise wiener dog is our official poster child for take-charge canines across the nation.

Good Deed Makes Missy A Good Dog Indeed

Remember those Lassie movies where Lassie managed to not only hop a plane, train or automobile to alert the authorities of any impending crisis, but also provide the actual GPS coordinates of said calamity to the authorities? Well, it appears that Missy the Dachshund has figured out how to do just that!

Charles Mitchell was working in his yard last week in the Oregon wine country town of Yamhill when his neighbor’s dog, an 11-year-old dachshund named Missy, scampered up and refused to leave. Mitchell told little Missy to go home, but she refused. 

“I told Missy to go home, but she wouldn’t move,” Mitchell told the News Register. “She didn’t move until I started to follow her, and then she kept looking back to make sure I was coming.” He realized something must be wrong, because Missy never left the yard on her own and always stuck close to her owner, Charlie Burdon.

Upon following Missy to her house, Mitchell found his neighbor and good friend, Charlie Burdon, had collapsed inside his home. Phone calls ensued and the police chief arrived with paramedics and Burdon, who had suffered an attack of vertigo, was taken to the hospital and is recovering.

Now that’s impressive! Let’s hear it for Missy - the quick-thinking wonder wiener dog! Learn more about other heroic small dogs in history at Small and In Charge - Your Guide to Small Dogs at AnimalPlanet.com

ps. I am fairly certain that if I ever lay helpless on the floor, my dogs would most likely commence licking my face and then retire to their favorite sunny spot for a power nap. How about you - are your hounds heroic...or.... not so much?

Comments

[Will]

Yes, my 3-year old 40-lb pittie would like me like crazy, then probably go lay on her bed or chew her nylabone :)

[Sue]

I'm certain my dogs, esp my Border Collie would have to find a way to help Mom. He's a take charge kinda guy and a K-9 genius!

[Tonya Smith]

I have an 17 & 1/2 yr old Dashound named Puppy these dogs are so smart! they never want to leave your side!!

[Betsey Hurley]

How wonderful. If only we could all have a Missy.

[IDA LANG]

Integrerat Bara Missy , Alla hundar mycket , mycket känslig VAD SOM Helst , min boxer Hetta Bori Kunde räkna HUR mycket Hög SOM HON hoppade Upp In tak, troligen 3-4 metrar , sant , JAG Fick shocken AV Bori hppade Upp " HON SA SIG KAN JAG Hoppa UPP på taket , JAG trodde ögonen aldrig Mina, sant , min Sällskap man sa mycket bra Att Bara självmant Än tvinga , absolut, minns JAG 1973-1975 .

[Doreen]

We have a 9 year old Springer who knew when my mother-in-law was crying and she would scratch the door to go up stairs to see her. Once she got to her she wouldn't cry any more. She had dementia and our dog always knew when she was sad.

[Motorbuzz]

My 12 (almost 13) yr old dachshund would bark until someone came, I am certain of it. My other 3 dachsies, not sure how they would respond. But Squirt, he's the heartbeat at my feet.

[Eva]

Adopted Toby from Humane Society in 2002 when he was about 6 mo. He would get up in the morning with my husband and they would hang out together.One morning Toby jumped up on the bed and started licking my face to wake me up (something he'd NEVER done before). I was experiencing Atrial Fibrillation and had to go to the E.R. He's my hero!! He's 10 now, has an 8 yr old sidekick,and is definitely allowed on the bed whenever he wants to get up there.