Dog saves woman's life (From Malvern Gazette)

Dog saves woman's life

7:30am Thursday 21st February 2013 in News Exclusive By Sarah Davies

Buy this photo » SO PROUD: Owner Debbie Clarke with her dog Stilts. 0813252302

A HEROIC hound proved himself to be worth his weight in bones when he saved the life of a stranded woman.

Debbie Clarke and Alan Jackson thought eight-year-old Stilts was being stubborn when he began barking and refused to come indoors during the early hours of yesterday. Little did they know the French griffon and collie cross had heard the cries of a woman whose life was hanging in the balance after she had become stuck in a muddy field in freezing temperatures.

Within minutes of Stilts raising the alarm, the woman was back on dry land and in the care of paramedics.

Proud owner Mrs Clarke said she feared for what might have happened if her beloved dog had not heard the commotion.

The 49-year-old mother-of-three said: “We live in Pickersleigh Grove in Malvern and there are fields at the bottom of our garden, and an alleyway that runs down to them at the side of our property. People use the fields as a cut-through to Pickersleigh Road.

“It was about 1.40am. Our German Shepherd Lulu does wake us up to go out in the night so we both got up to let them out.

“Stilts, who is always first to come back in as he hates the cold weather, refused to do so. He was down the bottom of the garden sat by the fence and would not stop barking.

“Alan went down the garden to get him and he heard a lady shouting for help. I rang the police and Alan went in front of me and found her stuck in the mud.

“Her shopping trolley was up on end. The police helped her get up and called the ambulance service. The paramedics said she was lucky and that Stilts had probably saved her life.

“She was freezing and couldn’t stop shaking. She’d been to Morrisons and that closes at about 9pm so she’d obviously been out there a hell of a long time.”

Mrs Clarke said Stilts, who got his name for being the tallest pup in his litter, she would be rewarding her pet for his gallantry with his favourite treat – bones.

The grandmother-of-one said: “I’m really proud of Stilts. He’s a very loving dog and a very precious dog.

“He’s an amazing family pet and he was my sole companion for nine months when I lived in France.

“The dogs have got their beds but he wouldn’t go in his that night and just lay inbetween me and my partner – he certainly knew someone was out there. He’s a real little hero. He saved her life. If the dogs hadn’t gone out nobody would have found her.”

Sgt Ian Blanchard, of Malvern police, praised the efforts of the courageous canine.

He said: “As a result of the dog’s actions, this lady was found. It’s a bit of a Lassie story.

“It’s a nice ending to something that could have potentially been quite serious – it was a cold night.

“We’d like to say ‘thank you’ from the police. Debbie Clarke should be rightly proud of her dog.”

Sgt Blanchard said he understood the rescued woman was doing well.

A spokesman at West Midlands Ambulance Service confirmed paramedics attended the scene and took a woman with suspected hypothermia to Worcestershire Royal Hospital.