Her boxer, Reggie, who is just 16-months-old, immediately jumped into action by keeping Yogi upright and moving. This attention saved poor Yogi from aspirating long enough for Strilka to get home.

It felt so unreal,” said Lonie’s father, Richard McNeal. The toddler’s parents say she was screaming while the dog had her face in its mouth. The animal did not let go immediately.

But during this visit, Hendrickson says she had just put Lonie down on the bottom of the steps when the dog, who had been outside, pushed through a couch barrier and ran toward her. “When it caught ...