Paramedics are never sure what to expect when they arrive at the scene of an emergency. Courtney Ivan, an employee of Elite EMS in Pennsylvania, knows this all too well.
When she responded to a routine call of a deceased man found in his home, she certainly did not think that she would be leaving with a new dog to care for!
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Ivan and her partner arrived at the man’s home shortly after firefighters. They were warned to steer clear of the dog and told that the Australian Cattle Dog was “mean” and “didn’t like people.”
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As a part-time volunteer for the Humane Society of Mercer County, Ivan is experienced and comfortable around dogs. This particular pooch certainly did not strike her as vicious. In fact, the female Cattle Dog – later named Hope – approached Ivan and her partner calmly and gently. Ivan told The Dodo:
“She was very friendly. She let us pet her, touch her and hug her. She followed us around the whole time we were there.”
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When the deceased man’s family members were notified, they stated that they had no idea he had a dog and that they would not be able to care for Hope. In fact, they intended to have her euthanized that very day. Refusing to let that happen, Ivan asked for permission to take custody of Hope and the family agreed.
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Just like that, Ivan and her partner found themselves driving back to the EMS station with an extra crew member in tow. The station already has a resident dog named Humphrey who was rescued from a local shelter, so Ivan figured they could foster Hope until a good home could be found.
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When Humphrey and the rest of the Elite EMS crew met the little dog, those plans quickly changed; everyone just fell in love. Hope became the new official team member! Ivan told The Dodo:
“The first night, the crew was lying on the floor with her, trying to build trust. I came back after my 24-hour shift at another station, and there were matching dog beds for her and Humphrey, and toys and treats. They were amazing with her.”
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Sadly, Hope’s ordeal was not over just yet. The crew began to notice that she favored her right front leg. X-rays revealed a dislocated shoulder, elbow fractures and torn ligaments – possibly due to past abuse.
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It was a tough decision, but eventually they agreed to have the severely damaged limb amputated.
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Humphrey and the EMS crew anxiously awaited Hope’s return from the hospital and were delighted to find that having 3 legs has not slowed her down one bit! She still runs with Humphrey, climbs on tables, and snuggles with her thirty “co-workers” just like before.
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Hope has become an inspiration to all who meet her and Courtney Ivan could not be happier that she made the snap decision to save a dog’s life that fateful day.
“Hope is amazing,” she said. “I could go on about her all day long, everyday. She’s awesome.”
H/T to The Dodo
Featured Image via Facebook/Elite EMS
