In May 2003, assistance dog Orca found help after Cheryl Alexander fell into a water-filled ditch and was pinned by her powered wheelchair.

near Heslington, York, United Kingdom

Story

Orca had only recently been partnered with Cheryl Alexander when her powered wheelchair tumbled down an embankment into a drainage ditch.

After one failed attempt to find help, Orca broke normal assistance-dog expectations, returned, searched again, and led a jogger back to Cheryl.

The story matters because Orca's rescue depended on training and on active judgment when ordinary obedience was not enough.

Sources

• Wikipedia: Orca (dog)
• BBC report