A St. Augustine, Florida woman is alive today after suffering a stroke at her home. She has two Labrador retrievers who can expect a lot of treats and belly rubs.
Maureen Hatcher lives alone with her two dogs, Bella and Sadie. Last month, she suffered a stroke and collapsed.
As she lay on the floor, unable to move and barely able to speak, the dogs ran over to help. Hatcher recalls, "I remember Sadie coming in and I said … ‘Mommy needs help' And then, they were gone.”
Hatcher's video doorbell captured both dogs sprinting out of the house and into the street to get help. They came upon her neighbor, Alexandra Naspolini, who could tell there was something wrong.
She followed the dogs back to the house and walked inside to find Hatcher on the floor. She immediately Hatcher said she is not sure how the dogs got out, telling First Coast News her door always locks automatically.
She believes the door must have been slightly ajar the day she suffered the stroke.
“By rights, I shouldn’t be in the shape that I’m in,” Hatcher said with Bella and Sadie sitting at her feet. “I am blessed….very blessed.”
called 911.
A short while later, paramedics arrived and treated her in the ambulance on the way to the hospital. Medics say if they hadn't gotten to her so soon, the stroke could have killed her. They say there's no doubt the dogs saved her life.