Lassie Doesn't Have Anything On These Pets

We love our pets, and they love us.  Sometimes, life throws us curveballs and pets have come to the rescue of their owners.  The article below debates whether it is love instinct, such as a mother throwing herself in front of her children, or a more selfish instinct that lets the animal know they need their owner's help in getting away from danger.

The stories below are 15 examples of animals saving their owners.  I read a few, sniffled a lot, and decided this is worth sharing.  The next time I want to call my cat useless, this will be running through my mind.

In early November, 3-and-a-half-year-old Duncan saved his best friend's life.

Duncan, a boxer, pawed and barked at his owner, Scott Dunn, until the man awoke to find the house full of smoke, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Dunn was able to escape to his truck, but heroic Duncan died in the fire.

We often hear stories of life-saving pets like Duncan, but what compels these faithful animals to perform such heroic acts -- love for their owners or their own survival instincts?

The answer varies depending on a factors like breed, training and socialization, according to Amy Shojai, author of 23 pet-care books and a certified animal behavior consultant. But she does think love has something to do with it.

"It's doubtful that pets consciously think about their own safety in such situations any more than a human mom thinks twice about throwing herself in the path of danger to save her child," says Shojai. However, she adds, other times self-preservation may motivate the heroic act, such as when the pet feels threatened and needs the help of its owner to get to safety.

No matter what the true motivation, a pet who saves a human is still heroic in our book. And the amazing thing is, these courageous acts happen more often than you might think. Check out these real life Lassies -- dogs, cats, rabbits and more that have saved their owners' lives in recent years.