A 61-year-old Alberta man owes his life to his dog after he found himself stuck in a muddy ditch for a dreadful two days.

The man's loyal Akita companion, aptly named Hero, truly lived up to his name!

Police were initially alerted to a large dog who may be injured on the loose in the southern Alberta town of Taber, but once authorities arrived on the scene, they couldn't find the dog.

A few hours later, Curtis Dahl, a man living in the same area, called the police about a large dog who attacked him and his dog Jack, biting him in the process.

(More on why Hero attacked them in a second)

Constable Austin Weersink told CBC News that after police responded to this second incident, they spotted Hero lying on a grassy area near the road. Weersink whistled to get the dog's attention, and that's when he heard a loud cry for help.

A man, Hero's owner, was lying on his back in a muddy ditch.

I looked to my left where the individual who had been attacked was sitting in his vehicle, but his window was [rolled] up. So I whistled again, and the shriek came again and said, 'Help, I'm down here.'

The tall grass ... it's extremely tough to see someone in there.

The owner had gotten stuck in the mud where he frequently walks with his two dogs, Hero and Tora. He had been stuck there for two days, unable to move and out of clear sight from the road.

Hero stayed by his side, providing him warmth as temperatures dropped, and even fought off coyotes to keep his owner safe.

Hero doin' what heroes do!

This is what Dahl had to say after he learned what Hero had been through, coyotes and all:

I think [Hero] thought my dog was a threat. But once I thought about it, I knew why this dog did what he did.

Dahl was taken to the hospital for his injuries, and his dog Jack was treated as well.

The owner, meanwhile, was sent to a local hospital to recover while Hero and Tora were taken in by the Taber's Lost Paws Society. Tora, who has a rod in a previously broken leg, had some loose screws from "frantically running between the place her owner was trapped and her residence."

Brownie point for Tora! Poor girl.

Alana McPhee with the Lost Paws Society said Hero was "obviously quite anxious, confused, but quite calm actually."

He was involved in fighting because he was really just protecting his owner … I guess you could say he really, truly lives up to his name.

The Lost Paws Society launched a fundraiser to support the injured pets involved in the incident and McPhee says she can tell Hero and Tora can't wait to be back at their owner's side.

If it hadn't been for Hero, his owner could have been a frozen coyote dinner!

Hero. What a good boy.

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