### Quick-Thinking Puppy Saves Owner During Medical Emergency
In a remarkable story highlighting the extraordinary bond between humans and dogs, a young cocker spaniel has been credited with saving his owner’s life, even before completing his official service dog training. Jeannette Godsell, from Southampton, attributes her survival during a recent heart attack entirely to her clever canine companion, Watson.
On what seemed to be an ordinary day in June, Jeannette returned home accompanied by Watson, the 15-month-old puppy she has been training for Hearing Dogs for Deaf People. However, it quickly became apparent that this was no ordinary evening. Jeannette began to feel unwell shortly after arriving home, describing her sensation as “a bit funny”, and decided to take a seat on her sofa in the hope that the discomfort would pass.
Watson, normally calm, almost immediately began acting out of character. Instead of settling, he repeatedly nudged Jeannette’s knee and darted to the front door, suggesting, according to her, that he was trying to lead her outside. This insistent behaviour was repeated several times, puzzling Jeannette, who noted that dogs in Watson’s training are typically taught to alert deaf owners to sounds, such as doorbells, by nudging and guiding.
Despite these signals, Jeannette initially dismissed Watson’s actions, intending to rest in bed until her partner, Chris Blake, returned home hours later. However, Watson had other ideas. He blocked her path to the stairs, barking loudly and refusing to let her pass.
Sensing the urgency, Watson then ran into the back garden, where he caused a commotion with his loud barking. This ruckus attracted the attention of Sue, Jeannette’s neighbour, who happened to be at home after a last-minute change to her usual work schedule. Sue came outside to investigate the noise, only to find Jeannette looking visibly unwell.
Realising the gravity of the situation, Sue immediately rang for an ambulance. Fortunately, paramedics were stationed nearby and arrived within minutes. Medical professionals quickly diagnosed Jeannette as suffering a heart attack, and she was rushed to hospital for an emergency stent operation.
Remarkably, Jeannette was able to enjoy a cup of tea in the recovery room just an hour later with her partner by her side. Doctors informed her that the timeliness of Sue’s intervention – thanks to Watson’s alert – likely prevented serious, long-term heart damage.
Reflecting on the incident, Jeannette described the series of fortunate events as “the planets aligning”. Had Watson not acted so instinctively, and Sue not been unexpectedly at home, the outcome could have been catastrophic. “Watson will always be in my heart, and my heart is OK because of him,” she said, expressing her deep gratitude.
Since starting as a volunteer puppy trainer for Hearing Dogs for Deaf People last July, Jeannette and Watson have formed a profound bond. She remains mystified by how the young dog was able to sense she was in distress, noting that heart attack detection is not part of his formal training. “Every time I think about it, it fries my head,” Jeannette remarked, still amazed by Watson’s intuition.
In the coming weeks, Watson will be matched with a deaf person to begin his life as a fully trained hearing dog. While Jeannette is confident that Watson will excel in his new role, she admits the farewell will be bittersweet after their life-changing experience together.
Meanwhile, Hearing Dogs for Deaf People continues to seek volunteers across the UK to train more life-changing puppies like Watson, hoping that many more lives can be positively impacted by these exceptional animals.
For further information on volunteering, visit the organisation’s website.