The Northvale dog broke a window and barked loudly to alert two people nearby that its owner was ill, police said.
NORTHVALE - Police are crediting a dog with helping to save the life of its owner, a woman who suffered a medical emergency and lay unconscious inside the home for several days.
Two women were walking near the home shortly before 8 p.m. Friday when they heard glass break and a dog barking loudly, according to Northvale Police Chief William Essmann.
The women called police.
"Our officers observed the broken pane of glass next to the front door with the dog inside the home," Essmann said in a statement.
The officers called out for anyone inside the home to come out but there was no response, Essmann said.
The officers then entered the home, where they found the resident unconscious.
The resident had "suffered an unknown medical event" and had been there for "an extended period of time," Essmann said.
EMTs arrived and transported the resident to a local hospital for treatment.
The dog suffered a minor injury to a front paw from breaking the window, the chief said.
"We believe that the dog inside the home heard the two women talking as they walked past the home and broke the glass with its paws in an attempt to get their attention, which led to their owner being rescued," Essmann said.
The woman remained in the intensive care unit of a local hospital on Monday, Essmann said.
Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.