Heroic dog saved his northern Ont. owner who had a massive heart attack

They say a dog is a man’s best friend.

In the case of Darren Cropper, from Bonfield, Ont., his three-year-old Siberian husky and golden retriever mix named Bear literally saved his life.

Darren Cropper, from Bonfield, Ont., near North Bay, says his three-year-old Siberian husky and golden retriever mix named Bear literally saved his life.

"He’s loyal to the end," said Darren, a Canadian Armed Forces veteran.

On a quiet night on Aug. 29, 2022, around 4 a.m., Bear woke up Darren’s wife Janice by pouncing on her and howling in her ear. The commotion also woke up their son.

That's when Janice rolled over and noticed her husband wasn’t in bed.

"I got up. I thought maybe he was having a coffee sitting down here watching TV," she said.

She followed Bear and rushed downstairs to find her husband of 35 years unconscious on the floor in the family room.

"I came down and the dog had jumped over the couch and onto Darren and I said, 'Holy crap,'" Janice recalled.

On a quiet night on Aug. 29, 2022, around 4 a.m., Bear woke up Darren Cooper’s wife, Janice, by pouncing on her and howling in her ear. Janice quickly discovered Darren had a massive heart attack. (Eric Taschner/CTV News)

Called 911

She called 911 and paramedics rushed to the scene. Darren was taken to hospital where doctors determined he suffered a massive heart attack known as a 'widowmaker.'

Darren said he remembers waking up around 1 a.m. Feeling unwell with stomach problems, he headed to the kitchen to make himself a cup of coffee.

"I wasn’t in any pain, but everything felt fuzzy," he said.

"I was coming downstairs … When I hit the bottom step, that’s all I could remember."

That's when Bear -- who was born from two former service dogs – jumped into action. The family said they believe it was in his genes to know something was wrong.

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The family said the only way Darren could have survived the three hours he was unconscious was if he received CPR. When he regained consciousness, Darren said he saw Bear jumping up and down on his chest, performing a basic form of CPR.

"I remember coming around and he was on my chest," Darren said. "He wasn’t even trained to do it. He just did it."

The family said they believe Bear kept jumping on Darren's chest until he woke up. Then the dog went upstairs to get help.

Darren was rushed to the hospital in Sudbury, where he underwent emergency triple bypass surgery for five hours.

He still has a few side-effects from the heart attack from time to time, and it took him a full year to return to a sense of normal life.

Thanks to Bear’s heroic actions, Darren Cooper is alive and well today. And Bear has been inducted into the 2024 Purina Animal Hall of Fame. (Eric Taschner/CTV News)

Honoured by Purina

"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," an emotional Darren said.

Thanks to Bear’s heroic actions, Darren is alive and well today. And Bear has been inducted into the 2024 Purina Animal Hall of Fame.

The family, including Bear, will be going to Purina’s head office in Mississauga next week for a special ceremony to recognize the dog’s heroic actions in saving his owner.

Bear proves that heroes come in all shapes and sizes, including ones with four legs and a wagging tail.

“If it wasn’t for him, everything would be a lot different,” Darren said.