Some of you may remember a thread I wrote a few years back about an ACD in a shelter that a friend of mine tried to adopt. They wouldn't initially let him have the dog because he was going to work cattle with the dog. It was a pretty big deal at the time, and went all the way to an emergency meeting of the board of directors of the shelter. Here is the link to the thread if you want to read it http://leerburg.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/201811/page/0/fpart/1

My friend (John) did end up adopting the dog, and trained him to work cows. John said that Bandit is the best dog he's ever put on cows- that's saying a LOT as John has trained several ACDs to work cattle.

Anway, the other day John went out to the summer pasture to bring in the steers as they will be shipping them out soon. He took Bandit with and a couple hours after they had left, Bandit returned to the house barking like a wild man.

John's wife took notice of that right away - Bandit was not a barker and only barked when he needed to. Then she noticed that John wasn't with him. As soon as she walked out the door, Bandit took off back up the hill to the pasture. She followed in the truck thinking maybe a steer had gotten tangled up in the fence and John needed help with it.

She found John down about halfway out to the pasture. He was on his back and Bandit was laying next to him licking his face. John was semi conscious and was able to get up and into the truck. She rushed to the hospital with him and found out he'd had a mild heart attack.

She called us and let us know what had happened. She had forgotten to close the gate when she drove out, so Paul and I went out to make sure it was all OK. We found Bandit sitting at the end of the driveway looking down the road. We tried to get him to come to the house, but he wouldn't budge. Not even for his buddy Drift.

Bandit did not leave his post in the driveway until John came home. He is currently glued to John's side. John's doctor said that since he was found so quickly and got medical attention, there won't be lasting effects. He also said that without aid, he could have died up on the hill.

John says he owes his life to this little ACD that he fought so hard to adopt. I agree.

Just thought I would share a story with a happy ending

--Kel

Dogs are so awesome...

Amen

Your story just made my day Kelly. You're going to add this in that book you are going to write, right?

<I'm going to keep nagging you until you give in..>

I second that , Amen.

What an awesome story and an awesome little dog!

This just goes to show you that dogs come to us for a reason, if it's not meant to be, then you won't get that dog...things just don't work out. If it is meant to be, nothing will stand in your way to have that dog in your life.

No one can intervene with fate, and it was obviously shown here!

Awesome story, thank you for sharing...just awesome!

 Quote: Niomi Smith

This just goes to show you that dogs come to us for a reason, if it's not meant to be, then you won't get that dog...things just don't work out. If it is meant to be, nothing will stand in your way to have that dog in your life.

Oh, how I wish that was true... Please read about Faith: http://leerburg.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Board=134&Number=337317&Searchpage=4&Main=30327&Words=Kelly+&topic=0&Search=true#Post337317

While I failed to save Faith, she came into my life for a reason. Even though I never met this dog, she called to me and profoundly changed my life. I dare say, she changed others as well.

My Journey with Faith has taught me that you have to put your heart on the line no matter what might happen. John and Bandit are a great example of that.

Just an FYI for those that went through Faith's Journey with me - I have heard through the grape vine that the shelter that Faith was in has a new director and he is hoping to make it a NO KILL shelter.

--Kel

Wonderful story, amazing dog!

Kel...what a great story about bandit and thanks for updating us on the shelter in Florida.