For nearly nine years, Dan DiCandilo had been walking his dog through the streets of Ashland, USA, every single day. The pair usually cover nearly five miles a day, a well-established part of their daily routine.
But on this particular morning, everything changed.
An unusual bark leads to a shocking discovery
As they were walking along Henry Clay Road towards the railway line, DiCandilo's dog, Gozier, suddenly started barking insistently at a house they passed every day. According to her owner, this was no ordinary bark.
The man explained to local news outlet WWBT that his dog's cry sounded almost like a call for help. Intrigued, he went closer and discovered a woman lying on her back on the lawn, dressed only in a white dressing gown. Her outfit blended in with the landscape, making her almost invisible from the road. She had no shoes, gloves, or hat, despite the temperature being around -9°C.
After speaking with the homeowner and realising the woman didn't live there, DiCandilo immediately called for an ambulance.
A four-legged hero
CCTV footage later revealed that the woman had dragged herself onto the lawn at around 4:15 a.m. By the time DiCandilo and his dog found her at 7:15 a.m., she had been lying outside in the freezing cold for about three hours.
She was rushed to hospital, where she spent a week in intensive care. Her body temperature had dropped to around 25.5°C, an extremely dangerous level. Against all odds, she survived.
For Dan DiCandilo, there is no doubt that his dog played a crucial role. He explains that dogs have an instinct that humans don't always possess, and Gozier's was on full display that day in a spectacular way.
Touched by the story, the Ashland community organised a ceremony on 3rd March to honour the brave dog.
