Top bravery award for dogs which saved child
It's great to see these two dogs — from breeds often blamed for dog attacks — recognized for their heroic actions in saving a child. The story was all over the Internet last winter. The dogs are now being honored with a rare RSPCA Purple Cross in Australia. Well done, guys.
From News.com.au in Australia.
Top bravery award for dogs which saved child
By Roberta Mancuso
March 20, 2008 03:38pm
TWO dogs which saved a toddler from drowning in a Queensland farm dam have been given the nation's highest animal bravery award.
Rottweiler-cross Tank and Staffordshire bull terrier Muck pulled two-year-old Max Hillier out of a neighbour's dam at Andergrove at Mackay, after he wandered away from his family home last December.
The dogs dragged him to safety then stood over the toddler, barking until help came.
The two dogs were today honoured with the RSPCA Purple Cross, joining the ranks of other extraordinary animals in Australian history.
Premier Anna Bligh presented one of the dogs, Tank, with the medal at a ceremony at Queensland's parliament house.
"Since its inception in 1993, only six animals have been awarded the Purple Cross for their outstanding service to humans, or more specifically, for risking their own safety to save a person from injury or death," Ms Bligh said.
As Purple Cross recipients, Muck and Tank join five other dogs and Simpson's donkey Murphy, which carried wounded soldiers at Gallipoli during World War I. The award to Murphy was made in 1997.
The two dogs are the first Queensland animals to receive the honour.
Muck, who belongs to the Hillier's neighbours, did not attend the ceremony.
Max's mum Georgie Hillier said a neighbour eventually found her son after hearing the dogs going "absolutely crazy".
"When she found him the dogs were just going off their heads just trying to alert somebody," Mrs Hillier said.
"Tank was covered in slime, as well as Max, and Muck was actually standing in between Max and the water, preventing Max from going back in again.
"Max had scratch marks on his wrist from where Tank had grabbed him, and he had a gravel rash on his bottom from where he was dragged out of the mud."
Mr Hillier said Tank was a hero around the house.
"He already sleeps on the best of dog beds," he said.
Tank also received a huge bone, a new lead and a packet of dog food for his efforts.
