Dog licked her owner’s face for 20 hours when he became paralyzed, instead of getting help — doctors later revealed it was saved his life

There are several heartwarming stories of a dog saving its owner’s life, but few as extraordinary as Kelsey, a 5-year-old Golden Retriever. Her owner was preparing for a special occasion when an unprecedented accident left him paralyzed in the woods with no one around. At that moment, Kelsey sprang into action. Noticing him lying on the ground, the smart dog knew she had to do something until help arrived. She licked his face for 20 hours straight instead of calling out for help. Her unusual move turned out to be a life-saving act, as doctors revealed that Bob had survived a risky situation. The beautiful story was posted on Reddit by the creator (u/Soloflow786) and received over 15,000 votes. 

Bob had gone out to collect fire logs on New Year’s Eve when he fell on the ice and broke his neck. “He was paralyzed and nobody could hear him, but Kelsey came running immediately,” the post revealed. The dog soon realized that her owner could not move and did something truly remarkable. Kelsey spread herself out across her owner’s body to keep him warm through the frigid temperatures. She did not move for about 20 hours and kept licking his face to ensure Bob remained conscious. “She kept barking for help the entire time,” the note explained. 

Eventually, the doctors found Bob and rushed him to the hospital. He was diagnosed with hypothermia, atrial fibrillation, and two herniated discs. The latter was identified as the cause of his paralysis. However, the doctors were unable to figure out how Bob did not have frostbite until they learned about Kelsey’s actions. “Doctors say it's because Kelsey kept him warm the entire time,” the Reddit user added in a follow-up comment. “Kelsey is a good girl.” No doubt about that. The viral post included a sweet picture of Kelsey cuddling up on Bob’s hospital bed while he lovingly scratched her despite his critical condition. 

The Reddit post moved many as they praised Kelsey’s life-saving feat. “Golden Retrievers are the best breed of the best animal,” penned u/Tackle3erry, and u/Lucky-Cricket called her “A real-life angel.” Fellow pet owners shared their personal stories. “I fainted once and woke to my Corgi biting me on the butt. We don’t know if he was trying to wake me up or put me out of my misery,” mused u/toodarkaltogether.

Another pet owner (u/GothPenguin) recounted, “My parents’ dog, who was never trained as a service dog, broke down the side screen door and made enough noise to get the neighbors outside and dragged one by the sleeve to follow him when I had a seizure and got stuck in the dining room.” Golden Retrievers are known for their unwavering loyalty and can sense danger in critical situations. They tend to avoid confrontation but often exhibit protective behaviors to help their loved ones, per Golden Meadows Retrievers.