Golden Retriever wins Valor Dog of the Year

 
It’s like something from Rin Tin Tin or Lassie, except Yogi saved a real human life.

Yogi, a Golden Retriever, was chosen by the Humane Society of the United States as the 2011 Valor Dog of the Year from ten finalists.

His owner Paul Horton had taken Yogi along as he rode his mountain bike on trails near his home in central Texas. Suddenly disaster struck. As he hit a curb, the front wheels stopped and Horton went over the handlebars landing on his head, knocking him unconscious.

When he woke, he couldn’t move and was bleeding from his nose and mouth. He was hidden from any passers about 100 feet from a dead end road. Horton told Yogi to get help, but Yogi didn’t want to leave him.

Finally, Yogi headed back to the main road, where Horton's neighbors Bruce and Maggie Tate were walking. The normally mellow dog barked frantically. The Tates knew something was wrong and followed Yogi to Horton. There, Yogi stood protectively by his friend.

"It's pretty amazing that Yogi first stayed with Paul when he needed to, then recognized us and came to get us," Bruce Tate said. "Paul was in desperate shape. He wasn't in a place where there's a lot of traffic."

Horton remains paralyzed from spinal injuries today. He has some movement in his arms and hands and is beginning to get some sensations in his legs and back. But without Yogi, there is a good chance he would have choked to death or gone into shock.

Today Yogi doesn’t let Horton out of his sight, following him wherever he goes in his wheelchair.

"It takes a very unique and special dog to do what Yogi did," said Nicole Paquette, Texas senior state director of the Humane Society. "He obviously has a true bond with Paul, and it just demonstrates how close we are to our companion animals and how much we need them." Source

Comments

[jackie]

that is amazing..good dog...good dog..

[georgia little pea]

Wow! What an amazing dog indeed!

[Pamela]

Yogi demonstrated that amazing ability to make a independent decision--you know, that ability that people who don't have dogs don't think dogs can do.

Great story! Thanks for sharing.

[Kristine]

I love stories like this. They prove that some dogs are capable of understanding the meaning of an emergency situation and of acting accordingly. Dogs understand a lot more than most people think.

Thanks for sharing it! :-)

[cube]

Pamela, there are people who are incapable of making the kind of independent decision that Yogi made. What a good dog.

[Khyra]

Those Goldens...

Hugz&Khysses,
Khyra Khurrently Khousin to two of 'em

[sosyaldogs]

Congratulations! Good, good, good dog!

[Dani]

Dogs are the best!