In Japan, a dog’s heroic actions have earned her a great deal of praise. Koume, a 5-year-old mixed-breed dog, was recognized by local fire officials in Wakaba-ku, Chiba City for saving the life of a man who was having a heart attack at a horse riding club. Koume’s actions were celebrated at a special ceremony, where she was presented with an official letter of appreciation.
According to reports from the riding club, the man collapsed at the facility on February 25th. Koume, who is usually a calm and quiet dog, began to bark incessantly to alert people to the situation. This allowed the staff to quickly respond and provide the necessary help to the victim.
“Koume is usually quiet and barks only under rare circumstances,” said Yuna Maruo, a 23-year-old riding instructor who was involved in the rescue. “But when an emergency arises, Koume does bark.”
The Wakaba Fire Department praised Koume’s actions, noting that early intervention is critical when it comes to saving the lives of people experiencing heart attacks.
“Koume’s action in calling for help and the staff’s actions were a perfect response,” said a fire department official.
Thanks to Koume’s barking, staff members were able to call an ambulance and paramedics were able to use an automated external defibrillator on the man in time to save his life. The man has since recovered and has returned to the riding club.
The horse riding club has a tradition of employing female dogs as mascots to greet members. Koume, who grew up under the guidance of another dog named Ume, has also drawn attention to other situations at the facility, including a horse trying to escape and an old horse that was having difficulty standing.
While Ume has since passed away, Maruo believes that the dog played a role in teaching Koume how to respond in times of crisis. “Ume must be happy in heaven,” said Maruo.
