MI - Dog helped keep owner alive by warming his body in freezing conditions

Kelsey the golden retriever stayed with her owner Bob for nearly 20 hours after he slipped and broke his neck while getting a log for his fire on New Year's Eve.

Bob called for his neighbors, but only Kelsey responded to his call and immediately began to protect her owner from the 24 degree cold.

"Kelsey was licking him and barking at him and pawing at him. I can see marks on his arm from her pawing at him," his daughter said.

Bob's neighbor Rick stopped by to borrow some eggs and discovered Kelsey still protecting his unconscious body.

The temperature dipped to 24 degrees as Bob lay paralyzed in the snow, Kelsey still barking by his side. The dog prevented Bob from falling victim to hypothermia by lying on top of him and licking his face and hands to keep him awake."I don't think he would be living unless the dog were there. The dog kept him warm. The dog kept his extremities warm. He didn't have any frostbite." Bob's doctor said.



http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2017/01...hours-after-he-slipped-on-snow/7301484237219/
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/dog-keeps-injured-owner-from-freezing-to-death-in-the-snow/

Awww. So lucky to have the dog and so scary for the fall to happen in such cold temperatures. Glad a neighbor finally found him. 20 hours is a long time to have been laying there.

Love stories like these. Such good friends animals are!!! And if it had to happen, it's probably good that it was cold outside. His dog kept him warm and frost-bite free, but the cold probably helped contain and preserve swelling and nerve cell function. I wish the best for them both.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3101829/

Kelsey! :loveyou:

Inside Edition picked up on this story with pictures:

Bob is now walking and undergoing intensive therapy at a rehabilitation center. He is expected to make a full recovery.

http://www.insideedition.com/headli...owner-who-fell-and-broke-his-neck-in-icy-cold

gday::luv::heartbeat::yourock:

Thankyou Kelsey, from our fur babies and us.

Man's Best Friend...:heartbeat: :wolf:

That's beautiful. Dogs are just the most wonderful beings on the planet. Treat them well and they'll save your life figuratively and literally if need be.

What a beautiful, amazing dog!

Sweet dog, - 20 hours is a long time in the cold for both man and best friend!