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Injured in wilderness fall, dog ran to fetch help for master

Dog saved his life

A UBC scientist says he has his dog to thank for saving his life.

Botanist Trevor Goward dislocated his shoulder in a fall and was stranded in the wilderness near Clearwater as dusk approached on Oct. 14. That's when he asked his beloved pet, Purple, to go get help. The dog ran off and found his research partner Curtis Bjork.

"My concern was really that she wouldn't get back with him in time," Goward told CTV News

"I'm pretty sure I just would have died," he said. "It is fair to say that she saved my life."

Purple returned with Bjork, who radioed colleagues with the Upper Clearwater Fire Brigade.

They followed Purple back to Goward and built a fire to warm him up as they waited for Wells Gray Search and Rescue.

Fourteen hours later, he was in a hospital bed.

"Purple has been, ever since then, just basking in some sort of an understanding that she did something rather remarkable," Goward said. "She feels like she's earned her kibbles, I think."

– with files from CTV Vancouver



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