No matter how hard we try, there’s simply no substitute for the loyalty of a dog—especially when life takes a sudden, terrifying turn. It’s often said that dogs are man’s best friend, and this story is living proof of that bond in its most heroic form.
Officer Cory Masterson was in the middle of a foot pursuit through the woods, accompanied by his K9 partner, Reno, when he was ambushed. A blow to the head knocked Cory to the ground, leaving him slipping in and out of consciousness.
That’s when Reno sprang into action. Charging through the forest, the loyal dog reached Cory just as one of the suspects—armed with a knife—was about to strike the downed officer.
Without hesitation, Reno lunged and sank his teeth into the man’s arm just beneath the elbow. Though injured in the struggle, Reno refused to release his grip until the attacker finally broke free and fled deeper into the woods.
As sirens blared in the distance, Reno rushed back to Cory’s side. Two other officers, following the sounds, arrived moments later and were led directly to Cory by Reno.
Paramedics were called, and Cory was rushed to the hospital. Reno, meanwhile, stayed behind with one of the officers, refusing to leave his partner for long.
The next morning, Reno waited anxiously by the patrol car, desperate to be reunited with Cory. But the news was grim—Cory had suffered a skull fracture and internal bleeding, and had fallen into a coma. Reno wasn’t allowed into the ICU, so he stayed outside the emergency room until he was eventually brought home.
A Long Wait and a Fateful Night
Three months later, Cory remained in a coma, now cared for at home with the help of a full-time nurse. Reno, of course, rarely left his side, always curled up next to his best friend, keeping silent vigil.
Then one night, something changed.
Reno suddenly sensed something unusual and ran to the caregiver’s room, scratching at the door in the middle of the night. Sensing the urgency, the nurse followed him back—only to find movement in Cory’s fingers.
It was the first sign of life. Slowly, Cory began to improve. He regained the ability to speak, eventually even relearning how to walk. Still, his health was precarious.
One night, Cory woke and attempted to get to the bathroom on his own. Reno, as always, followed close behind. But this time, something was off. Cory’s jaw tightened, his eyes bulged—and then he collapsed.
Reno barked and scratched at the nurse’s door until she awoke. When she arrived, Cory was lying on the floor, foam at his mouth. The nurse acted quickly, turning him onto his side and calling emergency services.
When Everyone Else Gave Up, Reno Didn’t
Paramedics arrived and began CPR. But as time ticked on, it seemed there was no hope. They stopped. Cory appeared gone.
But Reno refused to believe it. He barked and growled fiercely, standing protectively over his partner’s body, unwilling to let anyone near. Concerned about the dog’s behavior, the police were called and Reno was led away.
Then, suddenly—a cough.
Against all odds, Cory came back.
The following day, a statement from the department described the event as a “Lazarus effect”—a rare medical phenomenon in which a person’s heart spontaneously starts beating again after CPR has ceased.
Doctors were stunned. Reno, however, had known all along. While everyone else believed Cory had passed, Reno sensed something no one else could: a glimmer of life. And he never gave up.
This incredible story is a testament to the loyalty and intuition of dogs. Reno’s actions didn’t just protect his partner—they very likely saved his life.