A man adopted a dog from a New Mexico animal shelter and the following day the dog saved his life.
The employees of the shelter received an unexpected call from the man who adopted the canine. But, instead of giving them bad news that shelters often get from adopters like changing their minds about the pet they brought home, Andrew Budek-Schmeisser only had nothing but praise for the dog who saved his life.
Budek-Schmeisser adopted Peanut on March 9 from the Animal Welfare Department after his friend suggested that he get a dog tall enough for him to lean on. He has a service dog, but a larger, sturdy dog would be able to help him more as he has difficulty walking. He also has a number of illnesses including cancer and heart problems.
When he brought Peanut home the next day, Budek-Schmeisser was outside with the Great Dane and pit mix when he fell and hit his head, obstructing his airway. Peanut immediately stepped in to help.
"I couldn't do anything about it, but Peanut could," he said. "Peanut cleared my airway, and when I was breathing well enough again, he sat me up. He and another dog helped move me to a chair where I could recover."
Budek-Schmeisser assumes that Peanut and his service dog, Belle, communicated with each other during the incident. Belle is a wolf hybrid, so she doesn't have the strength and height Peanut possesses, he explained.
Peanut was able to clear his airway and got him into a position so that he could breathe again. Then, both dogs helped move him to a chair. Peanut sat with him with his head against Budek-Schmeisser's chest to ensure he was still breathing and not going to fall again.
"I would not have expected a dog to understand within 24 hours what to do or to have the initiative to do what was necessary," he said. "When I realized what he was doing, I had to put my life and future into his hands, I had to trust him."
Peanut learned the ropes quickly from Belle and instead of doing things he wants to do such as chasing lizards, Peanut constantly stays by Budek-Schmeisser's side to keep him safe.
Budek-Schmeisser reflected on the fact that Peanut stayed in a crowded shelter for five months so he could make a difference in someone's life.
"Many dogs and cats waiting out there in shelters that can make a difference in people's lives. All they need is an opportunity," he said. "Healing may come on four paws."
The shelter was so touched to hear about the amazing rescue, which proves that adopting animals is a win-win for everyone involved.
"A faithful companion is gained, a friendship is formed and a life is saved," marketing manager Desiree Cawley told Newsweek. "In this circumstance, they both saved each other."
The Animal Welfare Department is home to more than 700 pets waiting for their forever homes where the adoption fee is waived for all pets at the city shelters, including spay or neuter, microchip, I.D. tag, and vaccinations.
According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, 6.3 million pets enter U.S. shelters each year, an average of 17,260 a day. The number of dogs and cats taken in by pet shelters hit 46,807 during January 2023, an increase of 1,744 compared with January 2022, the 24Pet Shelter Watch Report found.
Source: Newsweek