A Wounded Iraq Vet Had A Seizure. His Dog Saved His Life. You’ll Never Guess How

Most of us would call Terry McGlade a hero, given the sacrifices he made for his country. The Zanesville, Ohio, man is a United States Marine who served in both Iraq and Afghanistan. While in Afghanistan, he ran into a roadside bomb and was seriously wounded. But after what happened to him recently, McGlade says he has a new hero of his own.

His service dog, Major.

Since he was wounded, McGlade suffers from seizures and post-traumatic stress disorder. Two years ago he got Major, a pit bull and labrador mix who was trained to help McGlade cope with his PTSD and to recognize and react to signs of an oncoming seizure. But there was one thing Major was not trained to do: He was never taught to dial 911.

But that is exactly what he did when Terry McGlade had his most recent seizure.

“He actually was able to get the phone out of my pocket,” said McGlade. “I don’t have the phone anymore, but there are teeth marks on the phone.”

Unbelievable? Sure. But you can hear the amazing dog’s 911 call in the video news report below. Major actually did not bark or make any sounds. But he somehow knew to call 911 over and over again until the emergency dispatchers got the message. McGlade’s own voice can be heard on the call, though he sounds incoherent and confused.

The smartphone’s screen was pre-set to call 91, but somehow, Major knew to retrieve the phone out of his owner’s pocket, then press his paw against the screen to dial. And dial. Until he got results.

“I probably would have been in severe trouble if he wouldn’t have called,” McGlade says.

When help was on the way, the amazing service dog ran to the front of the house and waited. When paramedics showed up, Major then led them to the back of the house, where they found McGlade on the ground, incapacitated from the seizure.

“Right now, he is my world because he is an extension to my body,” says McGlade. “I don’t think I could operate in the everyday world without him right now.”

The Marine Corps vet spent one night in the hospital, and was then released with no serious harm done, thanks to the quick thinking service dog.

McGlade has now entered Major in the American Humane Society Hero Dog Awards.