A dog named Hero lived up to his name earlier this week after spending two days by his stranded master’s side, keeping his owner warm and even fending off coyotes while the man waited to be rescued from a muddy ditch in southern Alberta.

The dog’s bravery and devotion have earned widespread plaudits online and prompted one local animal rescue organization to raise money to cover vet bills for Hero and other pets inadvertently drawn into the 48-hour saga.

“It touched my heart. I cried almost immediately just hearing this story. It’s heartwarming,” Alana McPhee, acting president of the Taber Lost Paws Society, said in an interview Saturday.

The ordeal for Hero and his owner began on Thursday morning when Taber police said they received a complaint about a possibly injured dog at large north of the community’s sugar factory.