This four-legged hero saved his owner's life!

One morning, Darren Cropper couldn't shake the queasy feeling in his belly after his normal 10-mile walk with his 3-year-old husky–golden retriever mix, Bear.

- Bill Holton

Maybe I'll just go make a pot of coffee, he thought and slipped out of the bedroom quietly so he didn't wake his wife, Janice.

"Let's go downstairs and watch TV," Darren told Bear as they padded down to the basement rec room. But as Darren reached the last step, everything went black. He fell and struck his head hard on the coffee table.

It was Bear's desperate whimpering that brought Darren back to consciousness. He felt a wet lick on his cheek, then an unusual pressure on his chest.

Darren slid his eyes open to see Bear's 40 pounds perched on his sternum. His front paws rose and then pressed down.