The family of John Stewart, a 70-year-old resident of Nevada County, California, reported him missing when he was gone for almost eight hours. Because he had medical issues and had moments of memory loss, they were worried that something terrible might have happened to him.
John rarely wandered far, and his neighbors usually saw him at home or somewhere near it. His dog, a Doberman named Rico, was also missing. The canine was always by the senior man’s side, and they would regularly play with each other in their backyard. It was uncommon for them to be gone for a long time.
Loyal to the end
Because of the circumstances, the authorities quickly launched a search. They combed the wooded area near his home and visited the places he frequented. After 14 hours, they found John beside a pond barely a mile from his residence. He was already lifeless.
Standing by the edge of the pond, not far from his owner’s body, was Rico.
The dog’s eyes were glaring as he saw the search and rescue team move towards John. He walked to the space between the rescuers and the body and started growling. He was still trying to protect his dad.
Natural
With the joint effort of the rescuers and animal control officers, they were able to get to John and subdue Rico. They rushed the old man to the hospital, but it was no use. He had been dead for hours.
The doctors found no evidence of foul play and they would continue to determine the cause of his demise. They say his health may have been a considerable factor in his passing.
Rico was eventually released to his owner’s family, who praised him for his devotion. He never left his dad’s side, staying near for several hours after he died. He truly embodies a true and loyal friend.
Source: the-sun.com
