Harry Smith and his dog, Sarah Jane, love to take walks together.
VIDEOS BY INSPIRE MORE
On their usual trail, the two of them come across a beautiful lake. This usually isn’t a problem for Harry, who uses an electric wheelchair, but when his wheels got stuck in some mulch, he quickly found himself thrown into the water.
“I tried to back around to get out of it, and it went straight back instead and right down the embankment and dumped me right in the water,” Harry said.
As the 81-year-old screamed for help and desperately tried to stay afloat, all the while not being able to swim, Sarah Jane jumped into action — she barked as loudly as possible until two men nearby made their way over.
“When we looked over here the dog was splashing in the water so we both ran over here and I jumped in the water,” Edward Suhling, one of the men, said. “Only his head was above the water. The wheelchair was in the water.”
Luckily, they were able to get the help of a police officer who just so happened to be nearby. Together, the three of them pulled Harry out of the water as quickly as possible.
Soon after, he received medical care at the scene and was given the all-clear to go home right away — because Harry’s electric scooter was damaged, a police officer and a fireman pushed him home.
“She’s such a good dog,” Harry said. “Everybody in this neighborhood loves her, they all look out for her.”
Now, thanks to her quick thinking, Sarah Jane has earned herself even more admirers who are all hailing her as a hero.
“We are thankful for Mr. Smith’s dog and the two bystanders that helped save his life!” the Port St. Lucie Police Department wrote on Facebook. “And as the saying remains true… A man’s best friend is his dog.”
Needless to say, Harry made sure to show his best friend of seven years just how grateful he is to have her in a way that every dog loves: With food.
“I gave her a treat,” he said. “I love her, always have, always will.”
Don’t forget to share this article with a friend to celebrate this heroic dog!
Want to be happier in just 5 minutes a day? Sign up for Morning Smile and join over 455,000+ people who start each day with good news.