Heroic dog who saved owner's life dies in animal shelter days later from separation anxiety
HANGZHOU, CHINA: A heroic dog in eastern China who raised an alarm when his 78-year-old master had a stroke died 12 days after being separated from him and refusing food or water. The man, surnamed Yang, who has an apartment to himself, had a stroke late last month in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province. According to a December 17 City Express article, the man was taken to the hospital after his dog's unusual barking alerted neighbors that something was wrong.
Awang, a nine-year-old mixed breed golden retriever and Labrador, was dedicated to Yang for taking care of the dog since he was a puppy. According to local police officer Shen Jianhuan, the normally quiet Awang began barking loudly and incessantly after Yang's stroke. Yang's neighbors were alarmed when they heard the barking and called the police after knocking on Yang's door but received no answer.
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When police entered Yang's apartment, they discovered him pinned to the ground under a chair which had fallen on top of him. “We said to the dog, ‘We’re here to save your owner.’ He seemed to understand and lay down quietly,” Shen said, as reported by South China Morning Post.
A few days after Yang was admitted to the hospital, community workers sent Awang to an animal shelter for stray dogs. Awang, who was confined at the shelter alone in a cage and who refused to eat or drink, passed away on December 2, according to the manager of the facility, Jin. “We know that this dog saved his owner, just like any person saving another,” said Jin, adding that Awang had received special attention from the shelter employees due to his bravery.
He claimed that numerous dogs passed away at the shelter as a result of the stress of being relocated and their inability to adapt to their new surroundings. Due to space restrictions, dogs sent to the shelter are confined in locked cages and do not receive the same amount of human interaction or exercise as they would at home, according to Jin. In another instance of animal bravery in Zhejiang last February, a family dog helped authorities locate a missing toddler within hours of his absence.
Police located the three-year-old youngster after recognizing the dog in surveillance footage, according to local media. The dog followed the boy and stayed by his side as he explored the streets.