Posted on 03/08/2026 5:22:42 AM PDT by DFG
Man’s best friend has once again proven its ability to detect someone in trouble and lead its human companion to the scene to summon life-saving help.
Dan DiCandilo in Richmond, Virginia suburb of Ashland told WWBT how a dreary, bitterly cold morning just after sunrise turned into a life-saving rescue during his daily walk around the neighborhood with his dog, Gozier.
“We walk five miles a day, every day, and we’ve been doing that for nine years,” said DiCandilo. “Gozier is the child we’ve never had.”
He continued, “We were about halfway up Henry Clay, heading towards the tracks as we call it here in Ashland, and she started barking wildly at a house that we pass every single day.”
But the bark was one he didn’t recognize, he said, explaining it “had a little cry to it.”
“It was different,” he said. “It wasn’t a bark I had heard from her before.”Gozier pulled DiCandilo towards the home.
Only when they became very close to the home could he see the situation that had alerted the large, short-haired canine.
A woman lay unconscious and unresponsive on the front steps.
“It was a woman who was on her back in a white robe, which camouflaged her and made it impossible to see from the road,” said DiCandilo. “She had no hat, she had no gloves, she had no shoes.”
The temperature was 15 degrees.
He quickly called 911 and then alerted the homeowner, who did not recognize the woman. While waiting for first responders, Gozier kept barking, as if trying to wake her.
The dog’s bark turned out to be a life saver.
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
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From the comments:
“No reporting on why the woman was there to begin with
“?
Yes. What was it all about with her? I get it was wonderful she was saved by the dog but she was out in the freezing cold without shoes or a coat? What was that all about?
“Gozier is the child we’ve never had.”
Saddest statement ever.
Lady could have been suffering from a fever and went outside in her delirium to cool off. We had a couple of elderly folks die from exposure in the past decade. Very similar circumstances except there were no dog walkers to save them (this is the boonies).
A source online says she lived nearby, had Alzheimer’s, and was prone to wander (as is often the case with that horrible disease). My guess (just a guess) is she somehow managed to unlock the door and get outside while her caregiver was still asleep. The incident happened in the morning. Maybe very early morning??
their furbaby!!! UGH
Thank you. Wow. This woman was lucky this time but...dementia is such an awful thing!
It happens that not every couple can conceive.
Once married and then discovering that what do you expect of the couple?
It was about 4 a.m. and took a good 20-30 minutes before an ambulance arrived. With how cold it was, he certainly would've frozen to death had my dog not started barking. He told one of the paramedics that he was 84 years old (or 86, I forget) and was on his way to work when he tripped. I suspect he was suffering from Alzheimer's.
Sadly, I had to put my Shepherd down about 6 weeks later with advanced hemangiosarcoma that had spread to his vital organs. But, God kept him alive long enough to save an old man's life, at least for a little longer.
to adopt or foster or volunteer with real children in need. I don’t get the impression God wants people to pretend an animal is your child. animals are important but not human.
Two miscarriages for sure, possible third.
Kids just weren’t in my future apparently.
Without my dogs I’d have had no purpose or anything to pour my “ maternal instincts “ onto.
I NEED to “ mother” things and if dogs are all I get to have, then dogs it is.
Not every childless weirdo has “furbabies” as a first choice.
Some of us have to play the hand we’re dealt.
Not everyone gets that.
I get to face my old age alone with only dogs to “ take care of me”.
People should never imagine that people like me don’t wish things were different, especially when the long lonely nights are loud.
😢❤️🐕
just don’t say furbaby. It’s a dog, or cat if you prefer.
Neither of my kids have kids, and both have dogs, and they know it’s not a baby.
JMHO.
Tragic. Surrounded by young cat and dog owners.
That’s not what I encounter. Instead there is a large cohort of pleasure seeking adults who have not been taught to have and enjoy children by their own families and instead use animals to give them a pretend parenting experience.
In the late 1960's, my mother was in her late 40's when diagnosed with pre-senile dementia. One early morning, the phone rang, but not long enough to answer it. It was an alert call from a neighbor to warn us that she managed to unlock the door, walk outside half naked, unaware of her whereabouts. It is rather disturbing for family members and learn how to manage with those that have this disease.
that’s a weird statement. My life is far from tragic. But you do you.
Very good. Thanks for sharing something positive, I’m glad you and your dog saved a life.
Great question.
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