Another Dog Saves Owner from Heart Attack

March 15, 2001 Cleveland, Mississippi, USA

Ever get the feeling they know something we don't?

When Jimmy Webb was awakened by his diminutive Chihuahua-feist at around 1:00 am, he thought nothing of it.

"Squirt was carrying on and jumping around," says Mr. Webb, "I thought he wanted to go outside."

But Squirt was so enthusiastic, he proceeded to grab his owner's clothes and practically dressed Mr. Webb himself.

Mr. Webb describes:
"He started pulling on my pants in the chair and pulled them down and drug them over to me. He then went and started pulling my shoes by the strings and brought them over to me.  I got dressed and the whole time Squirt was cutting up and jumping around."

Around that time, the man began feeling some small chest pains, which he usually dismissed as being nothing serious (he had often been experiencing minor chest pains).

But as his chest pains quickly worsened, he realized that he had just enough time to take a glycerin tablet and drive himself to the hospital.

"I didn't think I had time to call 911, so I just went ahead," he explains.

Mr. Webb was initially admitted to the Bolivar Medical Center in Cleveland, but was transferred to Greenville's Delta Regional Medical Center when it became apparent that he was suffering a heart attack.  There he remained in the Intensive Care Unit for a week.

Meanwhile, Squirt was reported being very uneasy and hyper at the Webb home during Jimmy's absence.

Squirt had been brought home by Mr. Webb's wife Nancy eight months ago; since then, Squirt and Jimmy have been steadfast companions.

Since the ordeal, dog and man have been inseparable.

"I don't know how he knew—he just did," Mr. Webb adds. "The nurses said dogs know things like that."

Apparently they do! Last month Dakota the golden retriever was our featured canine cardiologist.

§§§

^Articles