It’s difficult for a lot of us to picture our lives without our dogs. However, other people’s life are dependent on their priceless dogs. Nobody is more knowledgeable about this than Ohio’s Medina County veteran David Barlet, 55. Not only was he devastated by the loss of his assistance dog, Gunter, but he also faced possible danger.
Barlet’s 33-year U.S. Army service came to an end after he received an epilepsy diagnosis. At that moment, he discovered that German shorthaired pointers, such as Gunter, might be trained to detect seizures, according to Cleveland’s WJW. These canines can warn their owner before a seizure begins and help them land safely on a couch or bed to avoid collapsing.
He has a unique connection with Gunter. Barlet said to the TV station, “I don’t know if I’ve ever been closer with another animal in my life.”
However, this past Fourth of July weekend, Gunter went missing, putting their friendship in jeopardy. Barlet’s wife was outdoors on July 3 with Gunter leashed while the neighbors lit fireworks to commemorate the occasion. Gunter was so scared of the sounds that he overpowered her and knocked her down before taking off into the darkness.
In the ensuing days, the Barlets put up posters asking for help and looked for their dog. By posting the posters on social media, strangers contributed.
Barlet told WJW, “We tried to keep it together around people, but when it was just the two of us in the evening, the house was so full of emotion, between his disappearance and the support we saw from the community.”
An 11-year-old child from the neighborhood heard crying in a nearby forested area two days after Gunter fled. The family found the lost canine after soliciting his parents’ assistance in the investigation. Since Gunter’s leash was twisted around a little tree, it’s likely that he didn’t eat or drink anything during those two days.
The reunion between Barlet and Gunter resembled a scene from a film. The cherished friend immediately charged in the direction of his owner after getting out of his automobile. Fortunately, Barlet said, Gunter was in good health despite the circumstances.
For bringing the veteran and his dog back together, the little kid has received overwhelming thanks from the Barlets and the local community. Both Medina’s police chief and pet owners have praised the child’s nice deed on social media.
“Someone that he didn’t even know was hurting and was in need, and so he did that,” Barlet explained to WJW. “I tell you I can hardly see the kid without really getting emotional, he’s very, very special to us.”