A woman owes her life to her poodle, who has rescued her from the brink of death several times.

Poppy, the poodle, has been a constant companion to Leaha Bunt, through her struggles with serious health issues - including a heart attack, depression and diabetes.

On several occasions, Poppy has raised the alarm to get help when the 39-year-old’s life has been in jeopardy.

Poppy, who is five years old, is an old hand at retrieving her owner’s cell phone and bringing it to her when she has fallen or collapsed.

On such occasions, she lays with Leaha to comfort her until help arrives.

Leaha was in a downward emotional spiral after her husband of just nine months died suddenly six years ago due to an aggressive cancer.

She said: “After that I was very lonely and suicidal and I decided to get a dog. I went to see poodle puppies I had seen advertised and Poppy was the only one who came running up to me.”

On one occasion, Leaha had gone to bed. Poppy had “grabbed” her hand and started pulling, had licked her face and hair and pawed at her.

Leaha had woken up with “really bad chest pains” and said her vision was “like looking through a tunnel”.

Poppy “barked, cried and howled” until help arrived. Leaha had had a heart attack.

Another time, she had fallen unconscious in a diabetic coma.

“Poppy continued crying and howling until a friend came,” said Leaha. “They could not wake me up and found Poppy lying on my stomach.

“I have taken overdoses a few times after losing my husband. Once when this happened, my aunt was here. Poppy got hold of her skirt and started pulling her to the bedroom where I was.”

Leaha suffers from sciatica, which causes pain and problems with her hips and spine, also affected by curvature.

“Sometimes I can’t get out of bed and there have been quite a few times when I have fallen down and can’t get up,” said Leaha.

“Poppy licks my face gets my cell pphone and brings it to me so I can get help.

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