photo #8861585

A 911 call reported a homeless man experiencing a heart attack on a park bench. When paramedics arrived, they loaded him onto a stretcher, but his dog, a scruffy mix named Bear, panicked. The dog jumped onto the stretcher, resting his head on the man’s chest and refusing to move, showing no aggression but digging in his paws.Although dogs are typically not allowed in ambulances due to hygiene rules, the paramedics noticed the man’s heart rate spiking whenever they tried to separate them. They allowed Bear to stay, and the dog rode the entire way to the ER, keeping his paw on the man’s hand.The incident highlighted the powerful role of companionship in supporting both emotional and physical well-being.