Paramedic cares for pets until owner wakes from coma

[moondog]

This woman is one in 10 million....and there's something to be said for tucking a note in your purse or wallet, just in case.

CINDY WOLFF, The Commercial Appeal
Sunday, May 3, 2009

MEMPHIS - In the dark, early hours of a cold, rainy October morning, a man hit by a car was wheeled into the trauma unit at The Regional Medical Center at Memphis.

He was unconscious, wet and in critical condition. Registered nurse Rachel Tonahill sifted through his effects. Who is he? Who could they call? She found a message, handwritten on lined notebook paper, folded up, stuffed in his wallet.

"I have two dogs that need to be taken care of. You will need animal control because one of the dogs is a Rottweiler. She is a good girl. Her name is Karma, six years old. The other dog's name is Jasmine, 10 years old."

He sketched a map showing how to get into his house. He wrote the note because he's a loner and no one would notice him gone if he disappeared or was hurt. He has no family in Memphis. He needed to tell someone that there were two dogs dependent on him. They also found his name in the wallet: Michael Short.

"Thank you. Someone please take care of my babies."

Tonahill handed the note to paramedic Pamey Hunter.

Hunter, 45, talks with a gruff edge and a Southern accent, and she works the night shift at The Med, one of two paramedics on staff.

Her shift ended at 7 a.m. The rain stopped. It was cold. She had a general idea of where Short's home was, not far from hers.

Karma, the Rottweiler, lunged at the chain-link fence, barking, snarling.

Hunter retreated, and returned with dog treats. She tossed them to Karma, moving closer with each toss until Karma took the treats out of her hand.

"Now, Karma, your daddy is hurt and I've got to take care of you and I have to go in and see about Jasmine," she told the Rottie.

Hunter ran out of treats.

"Now I'm going to get more cookies and you've got to think about this while I'm gone. I've got to get in to see about Jasmine."

When she returned, Karma wagged her nub.

Hunter didn't want to call animal control. She wanted the dogs to stay home.

"I knew because of the note that these dogs were the most important things to this man," said Hunter. "These dogs were all he had in the world and he wasn't going to lose them if I could help it."

Hunter went inside Short's house, where she found the older, friendlier dog in the hallway. She fed both dogs and promised to return that evening before she went to work.

And she did, every morning and night for two months.

Hunter bought them dog beds, fresh hay for a doghouse, a big box of treats. She took Jasmine to the vet for an ear infection, gave her arthritis medicine every day.

She cleaned spoiling food from Short's refrigerator. Tidied up.

When Short awoke from his coma, he asked about his dogs. Hunter told him as soon as he could get in a wheelchair, she'd bring the dogs to see him.

"These dogs feel like the only family I've got," said Short. "I was so relieved that someone took care of them. I'm a lucky guy."

On Christmas, Short told Hunter that Karma and Jasmine had been shopping and bought her a gift.

She stopped by. He handed her a wrapped little box with a necklace and cross inside, a gift from "her girls," a stranger's dogs that she kept safe when no one else would.


Paramedic cares for pets until owner wakes from coma : State and Regional News : Knoxville News Sentinel

[katb156]

Oh, goodness. Tissue Alert. What a wonderful story. Thanks for sharing!!!!

[Weily4Life]

Boy is that a tear jerker.

Pamey is truly an angel.

[observer]

Wow. Makes you want to send her a thank you card just because, doesn't it?

[Melsmom]

That is something I would do, it is nice to know there are people out their with a heart

[Nishasmom]

I agree....quite the tear jerker. She is a special woman to do that.

[Carol4dogs]

This is a truly wonderful story with a very happy ending. And it makes those of us who live alone think about what would happen to our animals at home if something were to happen to us. We should all have pertinent info about our animals with us at all times and in the glovebox of our vehicles. You never know when something might happen to us and no one would know who we are, where we live or if someone at home needs attention. This is especially true in my case as I have a developmentally challenged son age 41 and if something were to happen to me, he'd need to be taken care of, along with my three dogs.

Carol, Devon, Anka, Ben and Sabrina

[shybird]

Pass the tissues. That was such a wonderful thing that lady did. Brings a smile to the heart.

I have a Pet Alert attached to my drivers license.

[harleychik66]

What a wonderful, wonderful story. This lady truly is an angel. It's refreshing to hear a heartwarming story like this.

[Lila's Mom]

Yep, pass the tissue box my way. What a wonderful story. If only there were more people like this woman in the world.

[Cdn1050]

That's a very special person to go out of her way to do that.

[MarieM]

Definitely a great story (sniff, sniff) - what a great woman and a lucky man (and dogs!).

[SaschasPet]

What a heart warming story! If only there were more people like this woman in the world.

[Bear's mommy]

What a wonderful story. I can't believe I didn't see this on my local news. I have lived in Memphis all my life, only about 15 minutes outside of Memphis now. This woman is an angel; because if Animal Control would have gotten involved, the rottie probably wouldn't be here anymore. Thanks for sharing this story. It's nice to know that there are still some caring people in my city.

[eragons mom]

Absolutely wonderful story!!! Bless her!