Paw-some Wrexham puppy saves owner by triggering lifeline alarm

An 11-week-old Jack Russell puppy has been hailed a hero after triggering a lifeline alarm when her owner was knocked unconscious in a fall at home.

Catherine Anderson, 71, from Wrexham, struck her head on a fireplace after losing her balance when she stood to answer the phone. She had taken off her lifeline pendant to shower and forgotten to put it back on.

Mrs Anderson lay on the floor – until Chloe leapt into action and jumped onto the lifeline alarm unit in the living room, activating an emergency call to Delta Wellbeing’s 24/7 monitoring centre.

Staff could hear only frantic barking on the line and immediately dispatched paramedics, who arrived within minutes to find Mrs Anderson unconscious. She was taken to hospital with concussion, a large haematoma to the head and extensive bruising.

Mrs Anderson said: “It was a miracle Chloe knew what to do. I don’t know what would have happened to me. I don’t know how long I would have been lying there or how much worse it could have got.

“I must have lost consciousness because the next thing I know is the paramedics were there asking if I was alright. I live on my own; I couldn’t understand what had happened, but they told me that Delta Wellbeing could hear the dog barking and had called them. How did she know what to do? She was only a puppy.

“Without Delta Wellbeing and Chloe, I don’t know what life I would have now. Help wouldn’t have come, and my injury would have been much worse.”

Chloe has since been registered as a support dog and rarely leaves her owner’s side. Mrs Anderson had taken her on the advice of her GP as an emotional support pet.

“She doesn’t take her eyes off me,” she said. “I had a sneezing fit yesterday and I could see in her face she was worried, I had to tell her, ‘I’m only sneezing, I’m okay.’”

Chloe’s paw-some actions have even drawn royal attention. Mrs Anderson wrote to Queen Camilla, who is known to be fond of Jack Russells, to share Chloe’s story.

She later received a reply from the Queen describing Chloe as “a real star”.

Samantha Watkins, managing director of Delta Wellbeing, said: “We’re incredibly proud of the swift actions of our adviser, and in awe of Chloe’s instinct to press the alarm. This story shows how technology can keep people safe at home — and why wearing your pendant matters, there’s no need to take it off to have a shower! Our 24/7 team is always here, day and night, whenever help is needed.”

Mrs Anderson has used a lifeline alarm since 2019 due to long-standing balance problems and back issues following a horse-riding accident.

Delta Wellbeing provides telecare services on behalf of Wrexham Council, supplying equipment and round-the-clock monitoring to help people live safely and independently at home.