They say a dog is man’s best friend, and for Mark Johnsen, it’s especially true.

His 2-year-old golden retriever Andy goes everywhere with him and sleeps at the edge of his bed.

The Navy veteran from Camano Island is grateful his friend is OK after a car crash last month that nearly took both their lives.

“We’re really close,” he said.

“He’s the best Golden Retriever I’ve ever had. He’s a really friendly, outgoing dog.”

JOHNSEN WAS was driving south on State Highway 20 the morning of March 10 with Andy in the back seat of his truck. They had just finished visiting Deception Pass and were on the way to take Andy to the vet at the Seaplane Base in Oak Harbor.

Just before reaching Dugualla Bay, Johnsen fell asleep at the wheel. He doesn’t remember much about the crash, but it was a bad one that left his truck on an embankment near Monkey Hill Road.

Thanks to the quick action of first responders both arenow feeling better. One person in particular, Capt. Jim O’Connor, of North Whidbey Fire and Rescue, stepped up to make sure Andy received prompt medical care.

WHEN O’CONNOR arrived at the crash scene, Johnsen was in a state of semi-consciousness and in pain. At first, the first responders on scene didn’t realize a dog was in the truck — but then they heard the crying.

“He was on the floor behind the front seat,” O’Connor said. “Somebody said, ‘We need animal control.’”

That’s standard operating procedure — call Island County Animal Control.

O’Connor is a dog guy, the kind of person deeply affected when he saw another driver’s German shepherd die at the scene of a crash. He has a golden retriever of his own named Amy.

O’Connor didn’t think Andy could wait. He could tell the dog was badly hurt. Against all protocol, he did what he believed needed to be done.

“I just scooped him up,” O’Connor said. “He was crying to the point where I was crying.”

LIGHTS ON, sirens blaring, O’Connor drove like a bat out of hell toward the first veterinary clinic on the edge of Oak Harbor — Best Friend’s Veterinary Center.

The staff was called ahead of time. When O’Connor arrived with Andy crying on the seat of his rescue vehicle, Dr. Eric Anderson and his staff were waiting in the parking lot.

“He had some pretty serious injuries,” Anderson recalled.

During the crash, Andy’s paw lodged in the seat. During the tumble, he dislocated a hip. Muscles and ligaments were torn.

Dr. Anderson rushed Andy into emergency surgery.

“HE WAS suffering quite a bit,” Anderson said. “He’s a pretty stoic dog.”

Meanwhile, first responders worked to save Johnsen’s life. He was transported to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. He doesn’t want to talk about what happened.

Today Johnsen is still recovering and getting around with a walker.

He expressed gratitude to everyone who helped save his dog.

After a few weeks of procedures and healing at the clinic, Andy is finally back home. He’s lying outside soaking in the sunshine when it appears and back to his normal, happy doggish self.

“ANDY IS doing quite well,” Johnsen said. “He’s limping a lot less.”

Monday evening, Johnsen brought Andy back to the clinic for a check up.

The clinic staff grew close to Andy during his stay at the clinic.

When Johnsen arrived with Andy Monday, everyone wanted to shake his hand and give the goofy, gregarious dog a pet. The dog was all tail thumps and lolling tongue.

Andy had a few puppy kisses and nuzzles for both the fire captain and Dr. Anderson.

ANDERSON SAID Andy should make a full recovery, though he may have arthritis later in life.

O’Connor couldn’t say enough about the clinic staff, who acted quickly without knowing whether the bill would get settled.

Dr. Anderson, he said, went above and beyond, even consulting at length with colleagues at the Washington State University veterinary school for the least invasive treatment options for Andy.

“I appreciated how quickly he acted and the compassion of him and his staff,” O’Connor said.

“They looked after that dog like it was one of their own.”

The fire captain, however, doesn’t think what he did is a big deal.

“I did what I hope someone would do for my dog.”