His Buddy, Red

"What would I do without you, Red?"

This story began when  David Williams took his Pit Bull, Red, for a Saturday afternoon run in the local park one week ago.

"Come on, boy.  Time for our daily run," David called out as he grabbed Red's leash, iPod, and his apartment keys.

Red loved exercise time with his human dad, David.  He really liked the apartment he lived in with David, but Red was always filled with puppy energy and a one-bedroom apartment did not have enough space to keep up with him.  Daily runs were the highlight of his afternoons...

With his recently purchased iPod set to shuffle and Red's leash secured to his collar, David took to his run.  He always had the volume up because afternoons in the park were busy with food vendors, other joggers, children playing in the playground, and just overall eclectic energy that he preferred to ignore.  Although David worked from home, his schedule kept him just as busy and stressed as if he were on-site.  His daily afternoon runs were welcomed breaks.

Out of nowhere...

"Your money or your life."

David halted to a stop so fast that he nearly lost his balance.  Red began barking at a piercing pitch.

"I saw your iPod.  Your money or your life."

David's heart rate picked up, but he somehow calmly said,

"No."

"I said..."

"And I said no."

"Okay then..."

David awoke in a fog.  He sustained serious injuries that required intensive in-patient care.

"Where's Red?" he asked over his immense pain.

The nurse tending to his vitals hesitated her response.

"Um, your puppy was rushed to veterinary emergency care.  We were told that he is in surgery, but is expected to...Oh gosh, Mr. Williams."

"Don't tell me," David said as he gently cried himself back to sleep.

One week later...

Bark!

He was expected to be okay but...the injuries he needed emergency surgery for left him without use of his hind legs.  Red would forever be in a canine wheelchair but...He would be okay.  He saved his dad's life and that is all that mattered.

Bark!

"I know, Red, I know.  Physical therapy time."

The two had been released to come home with intensive physical therapy.  David, who was on crutches, helped Red as much as Red helped David.

The therapy was painful, but Red's puppy energy - despite his wheelchair - had come to fill the one-bedroom apartment with all the space he needed and was therefore able to help his dad.

Bark!

David lightly laughed and said,

"What would I do without you, Red?"