Speaking of beagles...

A Florida man nearly died recently due to a diabetic seizure, but was saved when his dog (a beagle) dialed 911 on his cell phone. Evidently the dog was trained to do this. Who knew beagles could do that? This is just one of many reasons why you shouldn't shoot a beagle.

[Kevin Weaver] has no memory of the diabetic seizure that caused him to collapse and hit his head. Or when his dog, Belle, got the cell phone that is always on the coffee table and bit into the number 9 on the keypad. This automatically dialed 911.

The next thing Weaver recalls is waking up in the hospital. The dog was there, too.

...Today, the 17-pound beagle is expected in Washington to receive the 2006 VITA Wireless Samaritan Award, given to someone -- or, in this case, some dog -- who used a cell phone to save a life, prevent a crime or help in an emergency. It's the first time a dog has received the award.

While Belle's honor is unusual, her role in medicine is not. She is among the growing legion of so-called "service dogs" that help patients with physical disabilities, hearing loss, diabetes and other conditions. The animals might turn on lights, alert people to sounds and generally provide extra assistance for the disabled or chronically ill.