It’s widely known that dogs exhibit remarkable loyalty, but Luna the Jack Russell showcased an extraordinary level of dedication by saving her owner’s life.
Experiencing a medical emergency while alone can lead to severe outcomes if immediate help is not accessible – a fact that Luna seemed instinctively aware of.
Vaughn Marshall, 48, had just returned to his home in Melbourne, Australia, after a walk with Luna when he suddenly felt unwell.
Vaughn then collapsed, unable to breathe or move, facing a terrifying situation.
Fortunately, Luna was quick to respond. She ran outside to get someone’s attention upon seeing Vaughn in distress.
Her efforts paid off when a good Samaritan noticed her and, according to Vaughn, carried Luna back into the house before calling an ambulance and providing aid.
Upon arrival at the hospital, Vaughn was admitted to the intensive care unit. Doctors diagnosed him with a pulmonary embolism, a life-threatening condition where a blood clot blocks a blood vessel in the lungs.
According to Mayo Clinic, symptoms of a pulmonary embolism include shortness of breath, chest pain, and fainting.
Additional symptoms may involve lightheadedness, fever, excessive sweating, and a rapid or irregular heartbeat.
Given the gravity of his condition, Vaughn believes he might not have survived without Luna’s intervention.
“Who knows what the outcome might have been if Luna hadn’t been there,” he shared with 9News.
Vaughn spent three nights in the ICU and has now returned home to his brave dog.
“If she wasn’t already my best friend, she is now,” Vaughn said of Luna. “I’m not sure if she has any idea of what she’s done, she certainly knows she’s been very spoilt ever since.”
Luna’s heroics aren’t an isolated incident; last year, a border collie named Axel saved a 17-year-old from a severe brain injury.
Gabriel, a teenager from Spring, Texas, fell unwell in his bedroom last year. Axel alerted his parents to the situation.
Doctors later determined Gabriel had suffered a stroke. Timely medical attention averted serious, lasting damage that could have rendered Gabriel nonfunctional and unable to live independently.
Gabriel spent a few days in the hospital and eventually recovered well. His mother credited Axel for saving her son’s life.