‘Hero’ wards off coyotes after owner falls into ditch and remained for days: Taber police

Taber police received complaints about a dog at large, but it turns out the dog was protecting his owner who was in serious trouble.

Officers responded to calls about a dog at the Sugar Factory by Taber, which is southeast of Calgary, at around 7 a.m. on March 28 and found nothing.

However, they received another complaint a couple of hours later from a man saying he and his dog were bitten by a large dog in the area.

When investigators went to the area a second time, they spotted a large dog, an Akita mix, lying on a berm.

And then the police heard the cries for help.

Hidden in some tall grass, police say a 61-year-old man was stuck in a muddy ditch.

The man tells police he was stuck there for two days, and that his dog stayed by his side to keep him warm, even fighting off coyotes at one point.

Officers say he was taken to Lethbridge Hospital, while the dog was taken to a local vet for assessment.

The complainant received medical attention after his run-in with the Akita, and when told of the circumstances, he was understanding and glad the 61-year-old was alright.

The Akita mix was also named Hero.