After a week of frantic searching a neighbour made a call to say someone had driven by a field outside the town and heard a dog barking. Family members drove to the area but heard nothing. The daughter of Mr Nicholas went back a second time and found Lady next to her dad who was already dead. She recalled how Lady was very protective by standing next to him. Lady never left her owner's side for the entire seven days and only stayed alive by drinking water from the creek. I don't know how dogs perceive things but she knew she had to stay with dad no matter what," says Nichols. "And she did." Lady who may not have eaten for a week was luckily in great condition and in good health. An autopsy report found that Parley Nichols passed away from a heart failure. Lady is now living with other Nicholas family members and enjoying life again. "Lady seems fine now ... she is a friendly, happy dog," Nichols tells PEOPLEPets.com. "I don't know if she misses my dad, but she is responding well to the rest of us. She did the right thing for dad, and we will always be comforted by that.