Sammy the Dog

Sammy, right, a hound-mix, has been credited with saving the life of his owner, a Northvale woman who suffered a medical condition in her home. Sammy, shown with the woman's other dog, Bella, a lab-shepherd mix, broke a window and barked to attract the attention of passers-by

(Courtesy Meg Verdigi)

NORTHVALE - Sammy barks when people come by the house. He barks even louder when they go away.

It was that anxious trait that police say they believe saved the life of Sammy's owner, a 62-year-old Northvale widow.

Last month, the woman collapsed in the bathroom of her home. She was alone, except for her two dogs, Bella, a lab-shepherd mix; and Sammy, a hound-mix.

Although semi-conscious, the woman, who has lived alone since the death of her husband in January 2005, was unable to move for an extended period - perhaps days, according to police.

Then on the evening of July 31, neighbor Meg Verdigi's daughter, Melanie, 23, and her friend Nicole Boyle, 23, of Teaneck, were out for a nightly walk.

"My daughter heard Sammy bark and heard glass breaking," Verdigi said.

When Melanie walked up to the house to ring the bell, she saw blood on the broken window.

And she heard Sammy barking. Nonstop.

"He never stopped barking," Meg Verdigi said. "I think he has separation anxiety."

Melanie pulled out her cellphone and called her mother.

"She said 'I think the dog broke the window. And the dog is barking'," Verdigi said. "She asked should she call the police. I said, 'Yes. Call the police'."

When two Northvale officers arrived, they reached through the broken window to unlock the front door.

They found the woman face down in the bathroom, "breathing with little verbal response," Officer Reginald Parsells wrote in his report.

"Two dogs were located inside the home with no food or water in sight," the officer wrote.

The woman was taken to the intensive care unit of a local hospital. She remained hospitalized on Tuesday.

"We believe that the dog inside the home heard the two women talking as they walked past," Northvale Police Chief William Essmann said. "The dog broke the glass with its paws in an attempt to get their attention, which led to their owner being rescued."

Melanie Verdigi brought Sammy and Bella home with her, along with a cat that belongs to the woman.

The pets stayed in the Verdigi home for a short period of time before they were turned over to Tyco Animal Control Services, in part because of Sammy's nonstop barking.

"It wasn't fair to my pets," said Verdigi, who has a small dog and cat.

The pets are now at the Paramus Animal Shelter, waiting for their owner to recover and take them home.

"They're not being fostered," points out Tyco manager Kim Nangle. "We're holding them for the owner."

Nangle and Tyco Northern Regional Director Carol Tyler would not allow any of the pets to be photographed without consent from the owner, who could not be reached.

Verdigi says she hopes her neighbor gets well soon and takes back her pets.

"She loved her animals. Loved them," Verdigi said. "They're very sweet dogs."

Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.