Dogs make our lives better. They give us love and comfort, they cheer us up when we’re sad and they make us laugh until we cry. And in Shauna Darcy’s case, her adorable puppy Ruby not only made her life better, it saved her.

Darcy and Ruby were initially brought together because Darcy suffered from anxiety, depression, and fear and hoped that a service dog could help her. Ruby soon excelled at her job and quickly became Darcy’s lovable companion. Little did they know that Ruby’s love for her new mother ultimately saved Darcy’s life.

While still training to be a service dog, Ruby noticed something worrying her.

Darcy explained in an interview with The Dodo: “She started noticing changes in my heart rate and behaving in humorous ways – like kicking me, trying to get my attention, on top of me, etc.”

Darcy takes Ruby’s concerns seriously and decides to see a doctor. At the doctor, Shauna was revealed to have Ehlers-Danlos Vascular Syndrome, a rare heart condition that can be life-threatening. Ruby has had a big influence on Darcy’s life, but she’s not done yet.

Then, just a few weeks ago, Ruby started warning Darcy that something was seriously wrong. Darcy, despite feeling fine, decides to trust Ruby and calls himself an ambulance.

Ruby’s training has been altered to focus on Darcy’s heart problems, and Ruby now helps her mother take medication and monitor her heart rate.

This decision most likely saved his life. When she arrived at the hospital, she was barely conscious and in severe pain because her heart was suffering from atrial fibrillation, a heart condition that causes an abnormally high heart rate.

While the doctors help Darcy, Ruby still refuses to leave her mother.
Even as Darcy lay unconscious, Ruby curled up beside her on the hospital bed. Ruby knows Darcy needs her love and support.

Darcy is incredibly grateful for her adorable puppy and knows how lucky she is to have such a wonderful friend in her life. She knew Ruby would always be by her side, keeping her safe.