Therapy dog saves 8-year-old boy from drowning
<p><span>Nobody noticed eight-year-old Ross Parry was in danger of drowning at Wellington's Thorndon Pool in New Zealand – except for Paddy the black labrador.</span></p>
<p><span>Liz Gasson's assistance dog, who helps her cope with multiple sclerosis, knew something was wrong, and became agitated as she sat beside the pool reading a book on Monday.</span></p>
<p><span>"All of a sudden, he pulled forward, and then he sort of started nudging me towards the direction of where the little boy was," Gasson said on Tuesday.</span></p>
<p><span>Gasson said Ross had tried to use his leg as a lever to get out of the pool, but instead his foot became lodged in a handrail.</span></p>
<p><span>"It was an immediate response. [Paddy] just immediately got up and realised something wasn't right ... it was amazing. I'm so proud of him," Gasson said.</span></p>
<p><span>Ross was lying backwards in the water, struggling to keep his head above the surface.</span></p>
<p><span>His sister Rhianna was calling out for help, trying to alert the pool's lifeguards, who had been dealing with a group of rowdy children.</span></p>
<p><span>Thanks to Paddy's attentiveness, Gasson and her husband, alongside Ross's mum Anita, freed the boy's leg and lifted Ross safely out of the water.</span></p>
<p><span>But Paddy's work wasn't over yet.</span></p>
<p><span>After the successful rescue, he consoled and calmed Ross the only way he knows – by licking his face.</span></p>
<p><span>Ross had swallowed a lot of water, and admitted "it was really scary".</span></p>
<p><span>But he insists the incident wasn't all bad, as he had found himself a new best friend.</span></p>
<p><span>"He's a superhero," Ross said.</span></p>
<p><span>Paddy, who turns three in March, was born on St Patrick's Day, with Gasson referring to him as her "little lucky charm".</span></p>
<p><span>"He's just an amazing dog. He knew something was going on far before anyone started shouting or anything like that.</span></p>
<p><span>"If it wasn't for Paddy alerting me, the kid would've been underwater longer.</span></p>
<p><span>"It was quite extraordinary. He was the first to recognise that something wasn't right.</span></p>
<p><span>"It could have been potentially very dangerous."</span></p>
<p><span>Paddy's extensive training as an assistance dog ensures Gasson has the freedom to live as normal a life as possible.</span></p>
<p><span>Assistance Dogs New Zealand was founded in 2008 to provide support for people with disabilities such as autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy and diabetes.</span></p>
<p><span>Paddy's training cost about $48,000.</span></p>
<p><em><span>Written by Katarina Williams and James Paul. Republished with permission of <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Stuff.co.nz.</span></strong></a> </span></em></p>
