In an extraordinary demonstration of loyalty, a three-year-old Siberian husky and golden retriever mix named Bear has been hailed as a hero after saving his owner, Darren Cropper, from a life-threatening heart attack in Bonfield, Ontario.
Darren, a veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces, credits Bear with literally saving his life. “He’s loyal to the end,” Darren remarked.
The incident unfolded in the early hours of August 29, 2022, when Bear’s urgent behavior roused Darren’s wife, Janice. Around 4 a.m., Bear leapt onto Janice, howling loudly, which also stirred their son. Concerned, Janice noticed Darren was missing from their bed.
“I thought maybe he was having coffee and watching TV,” she recounted. Following Bear downstairs, she found Darren unconscious on the family room floor, with Bear desperately trying to reach him.
“I came down, and the dog had jumped over the couch onto Darren, and I said, ‘Holy crap,'” Janice recalled.
Upon discovering Darren’s condition, Janice immediately called 911. Emergency services arrived promptly, and Darren was transported to the hospital, where doctors diagnosed him with a “widowmaker” heart attack.
Darren remembers feeling unwell earlier that night, experiencing stomach issues before deciding to make a cup of coffee. “I wasn’t in any pain, but everything felt fuzzy,” he said. He recalls hitting the bottom step before losing consciousness.
Bear, born of two former service dogs, instinctively sprang into action. The family believes his actions were driven by an innate understanding that something was wrong. It is thought that Bear kept jumping on Darren’s chest, essentially performing a rudimentary form of CPR until he regained consciousness.
“I remember coming around and he was on my chest,” Darren said, astonished. “He wasn’t even trained to do it. He just did it.”
After regaining consciousness, Darren was quickly rushed to a Sudbury hospital for a five-hour emergency triple bypass surgery. Although he experienced lingering side effects from the heart attack, it took a full year for him to return to a normal life.
Thanks to Bear’s brave efforts, Darren is alive today and well on his way to recovery. The bond between them was further solidified when Bear was inducted into the 2024 Purina Animal Hall of Fame.
“When I first saw him when I got home, he came right to me and jumped in my arms, and I just broke down crying,” Darren shared, overwhelmed with gratitude.
The family will attend a special ceremony at Purina’s head office in Mississauga next week to honor Bear’s heroic actions.
As Darren aptly puts it, “If it wasn’t for him, everything would be a lot different.” Bear’s story is a powerful reminder that heroes come in all shapes and sizes, including those with four legs and a wagging tail.
