Try telling that to the dog.
We have a 12-year-old Akita Inu. He has bad rear knees. We try to keep him from injuring himself.
This past winter, he found some coyotes who had killed a deer. He took the deer away from the coyotes and then dragged it home, about 1/8 of a mile. He did this by positioning himself in front of the deer, latching on to it with his teeth, setting his rear legs and heaving it toward him. He was so proud of himself! He came in, tail high and insisted we come out to look at his accomplishment.
They are just hardwired to be working dogs.
Yes, I know that. But note that the story says the dog collapsed. That tells me that the dog’s will might be there but the body ain’t. The next time he collapses from exertion he won’t be brought back.