Major and his owner Terry McGlade.
When Lassie was in need, he had to run to get help. But now there's a dog that is able to get help by using an iPhone.
Major, a Lab/Pit Bull mix, lives happily with his owner Terry McGlade, who is a former US Marine. The Zanesville, Ohio man suffers from seizures and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder following an IED attack in Afghanistan. One day while in his back yard, McGlade began to have a seizure and knew that his cell phone was in his pocket. Unable to get his phone out of his pocket, Major took over. "He was actually able to get my phone out of my pocket. I don't have the phone anymore because there are teeth marks on the phone," McGlade explained.
The phone was programmed to dial 911 when the screen was pressed for several seconds. Major pressed the screen and was able to call 911 several times while his owner lay on the ground having a seizure. Although Major did not bark, the 911 operators could tell that something was wrong.
The smart dog was waiting on the front sidewalk for help to arrive and then lead them to the back yard where McGlade was lying on the ground unconscious.
Following two tours in Iran and one in Afghanistan, McGlade got Major as a rescue dog to help him sense when his seizures were about to occur and to help him cope with his PTSD. He now considers Major to be a hero. "Now he's my world because he's basically the extension to my body," says McGlade. "I don't think I could make it in the everyday world without him."
After spending one night in the hospital, McGlade and Major were reunited. McGlade says that he was surprised that Major was able to make the calls because he had never been trained to use the iPhone.