Rescue dog featured on KESQ saves La Quinta woman’s life
The phrase ‘good dog’ takes on a whole new meaning when a basset hound-pit bull rescue saves a La Quinta woman’s life.
Kisses and treats are in unlimited supply for the dog, Charlie Mae, since becoming a hero to her owner early Wednesday morning. Phylicia Martellucci has had type 1 diabetes for thirty years, which means she’s always checking her blood sugar, but it can be dangerous, and even deadly, if those levels drop too low while she’s sleeping.
“She started walking on me, and I woke up and when I opened my eyes, I couldn’t really see good,” said Martellucci. “I went and checked my blood sugar, and it was 32, which is very low. Normal blood sugars range between 80 and 124 for a person who’s not diabetic, so if she had not woke me up at 32, it would’ve continued to drop until I passed away, so she really saved my life.”
Martellucci said she’s had some recent changes with her medication and how she takes it. Charlie Mae has apparently never received any formal service dog training and normally always sleeps through the night, but they do spend all their time together.
“She’s pretty much glued to my side constantly. That’s got to be it because she’s like the family dog, but she’s really mine,” said Martellucci.
Charlie Mae was adopted back in 2016 after her owners watched her on News Channel 3. Daniel Silva with Coachella Valley Animal Campus remembers Charlie Mae as Bessie the basset from Blythe before she found her home.
“The dogs here that we have are great,” said Silva. “[This] proves the point that a shelter animal actually makes the best pet.” Silva said that studies show that dogs can help you live longer, but Charlie Mae clearly went above and beyond.
“You think you’re rescuing them, but honestly, she rescued me,” said Martellucci, who has also adopted a second dog and continues to foster others.
If you are interested in adopting a pet from Coachella Valley Animal Campus, you can reach them at (760) 343-3644 or visit 72-050 Pet Land Place in Thousand Palms.
