Rancher’s dog hitches ride on ambulance

MASON, Texas – A dog named Buddy didn’t wait for an invitation when his 85-year-old owner had to go to the hospital.

Four-year-old Buddy hitched a ride on the outside of the ambulance carrying Texas rancher J.R. Nicholson to Hill Country Memorial Hospital.

Ranch hand Brian Wright said Friday that he summoned the ambulance Oct. 26 when Nicholson felt dizzy.

The San Angelo Standard-Times reported a motorist flagged down the ambulance to say a dog was on a side step. Buddy was then put into the ambulance with the patient.

Wright drove separately. At the hospital, medical staff told him about Buddy’s trip. Wright retrieved the dog from the ambulance, then later drove his boss and Buddy home.

Nicholson said Friday that he thinks of lot of his dog.