A PENSIONER'S dog saved his life in Madrid soon after he had been discharged from hospital, emergency services report – proving once again that the canine species really is man's best friend, or certainly turned out to be in the case of a lone-dweller recovering from Coronavirus.
A pair of pooches enjoying the sunshine on a Spanish beach
The 72-year-old man lives alone in the Tetuán neighbourhood of the capital, and had recently been treated at La Paz hospital after contracting Covid.
On Saturday afternoon, a few days after he had been sent home, his neighbours heard his dog barking incessantly and urgently at all hours of the day and night and, concerned at this unusual behaviour, tried telephoning the owner.
Repeated attempts brought no response, so they called the Madrid Municipal Police.
After getting no answer at the door, officers sought an emergency warrant and summoned the fire brigade and a SAMUR ambulance.
When they broke into the property, they found the dog's owner lying semi-conscious on his bed.
He was rushed back to hospital, where medics say his life is not in danger – but that a few more hours could have seen him in a critical condition, or worse.
Had his neighbours not been alerted by his dog's distressed barking, says the hospital, the man may not have survived.
The dog was taken to the municipal emergency vet service for a check-up and to be cared for until his owner was back home.
