Dogs have long been called man’s best friend, and few stories prove that loyalty as powerfully as what happened between Officer Cory Masterson and his K9 partner, Reno.
Officer Masterson was in the midst of pursuing suspects through the woods when he was ambushed and struck in the head. He collapsed to the ground, slipping into unconsciousness.
As danger loomed, Reno sprang into action. Sprinting through the trees, he found one of the criminals standing over his fallen partner, a knife raised. Without hesitation, Reno lunged and clamped down on the attacker’s arm, refusing to let go—even as he was injured in the struggle. Eventually, the suspect fled deeper into the woods, and Reno returned to Cory’s side.
Hearing sirens in the distance, Reno rushed to lead the arriving officers to the injured officer. Cory was quickly rushed to the hospital, while Reno remained with another officer.
By the next morning, Reno was anxious to see his partner again. He waited beside the patrol car, eager for a reunion. But the news was grim—Cory had suffered a severe skull fracture and was in a coma. Reno wasn’t allowed into the ICU, and eventually had to return home with another officer.
Months passed. Cory remained unconscious, but eventually he was transferred home to receive 24/7 care from a nurse. Reno stayed close, always lying by his partner’s side, refusing to leave the room.
Then, on a quiet Thursday night, something changed.
Reno suddenly sprang up and scratched frantically at the caregiver’s door, urgently trying to get her attention. The nurse followed Reno to Cory’s bedside—where she noticed slight movement in his fingers. It was the first sign of life in months.
From that moment on, Cory began a slow but determined recovery. He relearned how to speak and walk, though his condition remained fragile. Reno never left his side.
Then one night, Cory got up to use the bathroom—but Reno sensed something was off. Moments later, Cory collapsed, seizing violently and foaming at the mouth.
Reno barked and scratched at the nurse’s door, desperate to raise the alarm. She rushed to Cory and called emergency services. Paramedics arrived and began CPR—but it seemed too late.
They stopped compressions, and declared Cory gone.
But Reno refused to accept it. He growled and barked, standing guard over his friend’s body, not letting the doctors come close.
Just minutes later, a sudden cough broke the silence.
Cory was alive.
Doctors were stunned. Cory had exhibited what is known as the Lazarus effect—a rare phenomenon where a person’s heart restarts spontaneously after CPR has ended. The next day, a press release from the department acknowledged the event and praised Reno’s unwavering instinct.
When medical professionals had given up, Reno hadn’t. He sensed what no one else could: a faint spark of life still burning inside his friend.
It was more than loyalty—it was love, trust, and the unshakable bond between a man and his dog.