1. Orlando
Cecil Williams, a blind and then 60-year-old man, was riding the New York City subway where his guide dog, Orlando, was accompanying him. Williams fainted and started to tumble off of the platform when Orlando acted quickly to keep the man from falling down. However, Williams fell onto the tracks.
Orlando then jumped down onto the tracks to move Cecil out of harms ways since a train was approaching. While the train operator tried to stop in time, the train passed over them as Williams and Orlando both laid in the middle of the tracks. The two were unharmed except for a minor cut on Williams’ head.
2. Salty
A couple of guide dogs were able to help their owners during the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center. Salty, the yellow Labrador, was one of them. Just before the attack, Salty was with his owner — Omar Rivera — in Tower One on the 71st floor. After the explosion, Salty began to lead Omar through the smoke and fumes down the stairs and outside.
3. Figo
Audrey Stone is a blind owner of service dogs, one named Figo. One day he saw that a school bus was going to hit her so he ran at the bus and flung his body in the way in order to take the blow. However, the bus hit them both. They both survived with some injuries, but none of them were life-threatening. The police chief said the dog took most of the blow.
4. Yolanda
Christina Colon has a Golden Retriever guide dog named Yolanda. In 2013, intruders tried to get into her home, but Yolando pulled Colon’s bedroom door closed in order to protect her and ran downstairs to confront the thieves. They got scared and ran away.
5. Nell
Lesley Hailwood started choking on chocolate that she had eaten while at home, but no one was there to help her, except for one of her dogs. Nell, Hailwood’s guide dog, is a German Shephard-Golden Retriever mix. The dog was able to put his two front paws on Lesley Hailwood’s chest and dislodge the chocolate thus, saving her life.
Dogs Don’t Have to Be Trained to Help
Not all dogs have to be trained service dogs in order to help. Some react in times of need because of their natural instincts.