Dogs can be trained to obey a lot of commands: sit, stay, roll over, play dead. But how about “dial 911”? Well, that would probably be a foreign command for most dogs. Luckily, it wasn’t for Buddy, an 18-month-old German shepherd who remembered his training and saved his owner’s life. Joe Stalnaker of Scottsdale, Arizona, sustained a head injury during a military training exercise 10 years prior to the incident. Because of that injury, he suffered from seizures. Normally, a condition like that would make it unwise for him to live alone, but Stalnaker valued his independence and wanted to find a way to lead as normal a life as possible. Joe adopted Buddy from a Michigan-based organization called Paws With a Cause when the pup was just 8 weeks old. Paws with a Cause trains assistance dogs, and after adopting him, Joe trained Buddy to dial 911 until an operator was on the line in the event that he had a seizure. A year and a half later, that training saved Joe’s life. One day, Joe began seizing when he was home alone with Buddy. Buddy rushed to the phone and dialed 911, whimpering to the dispatcher. Even if they HOW ONE DOG SAVED HIS OWNER BY DIALING 911
don’t hear anyone on the line, dispatchers are required to send police. When police arrived at Joe’s home, they found him and Buddy, who was barking loudly. They took Joe to the nearby hospital, where in a few days, he made a full recovery. Some might say that Buddy was just following his training, but this heroic act goes far beyond just sitting and rolling over for treats. Even the veteran dispatchers hadn’t heard of a dog dialing 911 before. Buddy knew it was his mission to keep his owner safe, and thankfully, he knew exactly what to do under pressure — because that’s what heroes do.
Wills and Trusts: What’s the Difference?
Every estate plan requires a will or a trust. They are extremely similar, but there are some differences you should be aware of when it comes to deciding which better suits your needs. Both are used for designating who gets your assets, but they do it in different ways. A will is a document that provides instructions for whom you would like to receive your belongings and money in the event you pass away. Even if you don’t believe your assets are worth enough to have a will, you will likely benefit from having one. A trust is commonly, but wrongly, thought to be only for the wealthy. A trust is just a more detailed way to provide instructions for how your money and belongings should be distributed upon your passing.
into effect until you pass away. Wills are usually much simpler than trusts and allow you to name guardians for your children and pets, specify your final arrangements, and designate how your assets are dispersed. Trusts, however, offer much more control over the disbursement of assets. For example, you can control the age at which an individual can receive funds or assets and what they use them for. So, if you want a grandchild to receive a certain amount of money at 18 years of age for college, a trust can make certain this happens. Having a knowledgeable and reliable estate planning attorney is essential when it comes time to draw up your will or trust or to make a decision on which better suits your needs. Wills and trusts can be tricky, but we can help. For all questions and assistance, call us today!
Unlike a trust, which goes into effect immediately when it is funded and signed, a will doesn’t go
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