Man (Or Woman's) Best Friend

This heroic but sad story out of Wisconsin proves to us, once again, why dog's are man's best friend.

This story caused quite an argument in my house last night when my boyfriend, a true dog lover, read the short snippet in the back of my New Mobility magazine and became convinced the the woman intentionally sent her dog into harm's way. Read on to get the whole story of Jamie and Jesse.

From Best Friends Network - October 18, 2006:

Jamie Hanson is a disabled woman from Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. She lost her leg to a car accident a few years ago. Her dog Jesse, a golden retriever-german shepherd mix, is trained to assist her.

On a recent day Hanson was lying on her couch watching television when her cat ran across the back of the couch, knocking over a candle when he landed on the table. Subsequently, a fire broke out and Hansen fell from the couch, unable to reach her artificial leg. Jesse brought Hanson her leg, as well as the phone so she could dial 911. When she tried to put the leg on, she realized it was too hot so she crawled to the outside doorway. Jesse made sure she got to the outside door safely.

Next, 13 year old Jesse ran back in the house to find the cat that they could hear was still upstairs. Jesse was persistent in her task and did not come when Hanson called her to come back. Sadly, both Jesse and the cat died in the fire, but Hansen is here to tell Jesse's heroic story.

Hanson was treated at Aurora Sheboygan Memorial Medical Center for third degree burns to one arm, but has since been released.