6-year-old Sadie, a German Shepherd from New Jersey spent a month at the Ramapo-Bergen Animal Refuge before being adopted by Brian Myers. The pup’s owner had to surrender her due to moving to a new home which didn’t allow German Shepherds to be kept on the premises.

Sadie has taken a little while to place because she had some anxiety issues, but when she met Brian the two bonded almost immediately. Now the duo are practically inseparable, with Myers telling TODAY:

“She puts her face on the edge of the bed, looking at me, asking for permission to get on the bed. I say, ‘OK, go ahead.’ And she takes her toys with her and jumps up on the bed. She follows me everywhere. She’s my best friend.”

The true strength of their bond would shortly be tested when Myers, who is 59, contracted the Coronavirus. While confined to his bed as he recovered, Sadie never left his side and was his constant companion and source of comfort through the ordeal.

But as has been the case with many who have battled the virus, Brian unknowingly developed blood clots due to the extended about of time spent in bed. In the middle of the night on January 16, Myers suffered a stroke in his sleep. As he tried to get out of bed, he collapsed on the floor, unable to move. But Sadie was paying attention and jumped into action:

“I just could not control my muscles and didn’t have the strength to get back up. She immediately came down from the bed and came running over to my side and she laid down next to me and was kissing my face and letting me know that she was concerned and upset.”

Myer’s got the idea to try and use Sadie’s collar to and strength to pull himself up off the floor. As he grabbed Sadie’s collar, she responded as if she knew exactly what Brian needed her to do:

“When I grabbed her collar, she, I don’t know, just instinctively knew to start walking backwards and pulling me. And between her pulling me and whatever strength I could muster, I was able to slide myself across the floor and get out of the corner I was trapped in,” he said. “Otherwise I may be still laying there right now.”

Thanks to help from his four-legged friend, Myers got the help he needed and is currently in rehab, anxious to get back home to his main girl.

“I think when I see her, I’m going to burst into tears and hug her and kiss her,” Myers said. “My intention is now to give Sadie the best life that I possibly can going forward.”

Brian shared the incredible story with the Ramapo-Bergen Animal Refuge (RBAF), who shared it to their facebook page in hopes of encouraging more people to consider adopting from shelters. RBAF adoptions office manager Heather Centrella was thrilled to use Brian and Sadie’s story to promote animal rescue, saying:

“We think Brian and Sadie are an incredible duo, and they are both heroes, essentially. Brian saved Sadie and Sadie saved Brian in return. It’s just amazing.”