6 Inspiring Pets Who Saved Their Owners

By Nina Elias, Prevention

Who rescued who?
Sure, we could list study after study showing the health perks of having a pet in your life (improved blood pressure and better stress management are just two benefits). Or we can simply show it with these remarkable stories of four-legged friends helping out their two-legged companions. Warning: you may feel compelled to go squeeze a puppy when you read these. You should probably go with that instinct.

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Bobby and Jack
Bobby adopted his energetic pit bull-lab mix from the Andover Animal Hospital in Massachusetts not long after losing 140 pounds. They were fast friends, and Jack helped Bobby feel less lonely and more secure in his newly thin body. But in December 2007, Jack slipped a disk in his back, instantly paralyzing his hind legs. "Since that day, I have been challenged to put something else in my life first rather than myself," he says. Keeping a strong visual on his own physical health is crucial in order to lift the 65-pound dog and his wheelchair several times a day. And mentally, taking care of Jack, now 10, has kept him grounded and focused. "It's been over six years, and I wouldn't change a thing. These life adjustments may look tedious for a single guy, but I can assure you the benefits far outweigh the circumstantial issues."

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Amy, Callie, and Checka
Even with counseling and medications, Amy's lifelong struggle with depression came to a head during one particularly tough winter. Feeling isolated by the weather and living far away from friends and family, the day to day became less manageable than ever. "I couldn't make going outside the thing to look forward to, so my first inclination was my husband--but it's not healthy or fair to pin your emotional health on another person," Amy says. Thankfully, there were two fuzzy figures in her life who could handle that burden: her cats, Checka and Callie, whose reliable behavior provided the stability she needed. "They are purely creatures of pleasure--you can toss a feather back and forth and they'll love you forever--and that was all the inspiration I needed to get through the day," she explains.

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Teresa and Seamus
Seamus had already had a rough start to his life when Teresa adopted him from the Mary S. Roberts Pet Adoption Center in California. But after just a year under Teresa's roof, Seamus was diagnosed with canine cancer and was only given one year to live. (Your pet's cancer risk is very real--use our 7-Point Checklist to ID the warning signs.) Seamus beat the odds, but after he reached survivor status, Teresa herself was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer. "Seamus was my inspiration; I understood the odds and took his lead and got through my own cancer," she says. Seamus is still alive and wagging, and since then, Teresa conquered her own disease and adopted two more beagles. The California-based author is now five years cancer-free and enjoys giving her pups the leftover pulp from her morning juices. "Without my dogs, I probably wouldn't have a single healthy habit!" she says.

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Liz and Bashir
When Liz's husband was killed by a reckless driver in 2011, her stress-eating problem took a more dangerous turn. Despite leading an active life as a San Diego-based dog trainer, her doctor deemed her morbidly obese at 275 pounds. A week later, Liz took her Australian Shepherd Bashir to the vet for his annual check-up to learn that he, too, was five pounds overweight. "For a dog that normally weighs 50 pounds, 5 pounds is 10% of its body weight. It became clear to me that the two of us needed to make a change." Liz reached out to a dietician to help mend her portion control issues and sugar intake. And she and Bashir also started sweating together--first with three-mile walks, then eventually with regular bike rides, hikes, and camping excursions. Bashir took the weight off quickly and, at 51, Liz is halfway to her 100-pound goal, and has already seen improvements in her blood pressure and confidence. "A large part of my motivation was keeping him in mind--not only do I want to see him live a long and happy life, but he also keeps me accountable." Looking for some great ideas for you and your furry workout buddy? These 10 Fun Ways to Exercise With Your Pet will help you both prioritize health and fitness.

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Caroline and Splash
With her last child off to college and her husband resuming an intense travel schedule for work, Caroline found herself with more downtime than ever before. "I had no one to cook for and a silent home," says the author and professional coach. Her serious case of empty nest syndrome was causing her mental health to spiral downward--until the day she took her older dog Splash on his customary afternoon walk. "The darkening skies really matched my mood, but I noticed that Splash was barely getting down the street because of the massive lipoma (a benign tumor) that had all but taken over his back left leg." It was a reminder there was still someone in the house who needed her more than ever--and someone whose spirit could inspire her. "Despite his decreased mobility, he is always happy to see me, never fails to make me smile, and won't settle down at night until he sees that I am safely in my bed where he can 'guard' me. If he can soldier through his daily routines, then so can I." Splash is now 14.5 and may not have much more time left with his family, but Caroline continues to harness his positive spirit and dignity. (Add years to your furry pal's life with these Simple Tips That Extend Your Pet's Life.)

Phyllis and Nicko
Phyllis's 3-year-old standard poodle might not understand what shingles are, but he seems to understand suffering. Her painful bout with shingles means less play time, walks in the hills, or time at the park with other dogs for Nicko, but Phyllis marvels at his selflessness. Instead of moping around their home, Nicko fetches the paper for Phyllis every morning and lays next to her during her most painful moments. "The warmth and vibrations from his body are a powerful pain pill," she says. "Maybe it's the love, or maybe it's the complete giving with no expectations of return, but he seems to be the only cure that works."

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