Dying bulldog saves self from Grand Rapids fire
May 25 2009 10:36AM CDT
A Michigan man's decision not to end his terminally ill bulldog's life enabled the dog to extend its own life.
Scott Seymour said his dog, Brittney, awakened him with her barking early Saturday in time for both of them to escape from his burning house in Grand Rapids.
Seymour, who, like so many dog owners who project their own human sentiments to their pets, actually believes his dog's primary concern is for its owner, in this instance, Seymour. Seymour thinks his bulldog barked at him when the house was on fire in order to save her owner from the flames. In reality, the dog was obeying its own instincts for survival, which meant getting out of the burning house.
The fire came two weeks after a veterinarian discovered the 9-year-old American bulldog had several cancerous tumors.
The vet said the dog might not survive surgery, and Seymour ruled out chemotherapy, believing it would be too hard on Brittney.
Seymour said he could have had Brittney put down, but instead decided to give her medication to blunt her pain until death comes naturally, probably within a few weeks. Of couse, Brittney was unaware of any of this when the fire broke out and was most likely thinking, "Hey, Seymour, wake up and open the frigging door before I'm toast."
Firefighters told The Grand Rapids Press the house may be a total loss.
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