Canine loyalty exemplified

Earlier this week, Neatorama assembled a collection of stories of interesting and admirable dogs. To that list should be added Cash, whose amazing tale is summarized here (via Arbroath):

In an amazing display of loyalty, officials now believe a German shepherd dog stayed at her master's side for six weeks after the man had killed himself out on the prairie.

The dog, "Cash," was found alive Sunday, next to the body of her master, Jake Baysinger, 25, a resident of La Salle before his life ended on the Pawnee National Grassland.

When Baysinger was first reported missing and suicidal on June 28, the Weld County Sheriff's Office conducted an extensive search on land and by airplane, but they were unable to locate Baysinger or his pickup.

The body was found Sunday because a rancher saw the dog and went to investigate, finding Baysinger's body. Baysinger's gun lay nearby, and it's believe he shot himself.

The sheriff's office and Weld County Coroner's Office said the body may have been there for six weeks, and the dog stayed close by. There was evidence the dog ate mice and rabbits, officials said.

The dog was friendly when found, although she was thin and dehydrated, deputies said.

Investigators also said the dog probably protected her master's body by keeping coyotes away.