Dog leads investigators to stranded canine companion

BOSTON -- A Scottish terrier, Annabelle, owes her life to the quick thinking of her canine companion, Jacques, reports CBS Boston.

Earlier this week, the elderly owner of the dogs had a medical issue. During the confusion, the dogs ran off into the woods.

Orange Police Officer Chris Bisceglia found Jacques, but Annabelle was still missing. Then Jacques sent a message that led rescuers right to Annabelle -- just like a real-life Lassie.

"He'd bark. He'd come toward me and then he'd run away. And he continued to do this," Bisceglia told CBS Boston.

"I got close enough and I ended up hearing the female terrier was down the embankment stuck on a downed tree and she was trapped surrounded by water. And it was all ice, a steep embankment so she couldn't get back up."

Once they found Annabelle, fire rescue crews scooped her up, but they couldn't have done it without Jacques.

Animal Control Officer Jennifer Arsenault told CBS Boston Jacques deserves all the credit.

"It doesn't surprise me. Especially dogs that have been together for a long time, they become very bonded with each other and they're very intelligent," she said. "People don't give dogs half the credit they deserve."

Both dogs are doing well and staying with animal control until their owner is well enough to return to her home.