- Whizz, who recently died this month at the age of 12, was given a posthumous award by the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals
- The dog had saved nine people and one fellow dog from drowning during his entire career
- Whizz first made headlines in 2007 when he jumped into a water tank to pull out an Irish setter that had fallen in
LONDON, England – A Newfoundland in the United Kingdom was awarded a medal of honor for saving lives of people.
BBC News mentioned in their article published on March 22 that Whizz, who recently died this month at the age of 12, was given a posthumous award by the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA).
The United Kingdom based veterinary charity recognized Whizz for his lifesaving work.
PDSA said that Whizz served as a water rescue dog and was part of the Royal Navy Rescue, the Severn Area Rescue Association and Marine Volunteer Service.
The animal had saved nine people and one fellow dog from drowning during his entire career.
“I was sure that nobody would see me and panic really set in,” Toni Curtis said, who was rescued by Whizz in 2011.
Curtis was enjoying the beach when she had an asthma attack and almost drowned.
“The next thing I knew I heard a muffled voice, telling me to ‘grab the dog’ and before I knew it, I was being pulled to the safety of the lifeboat. Whizz had saved me and I will be forever in his debt,” Curtis said.
An article by Hillary Hanson for The Huffington Post published on March 23 said that Whizz first made headlines in 2007 when he jumped into a water tank to pull out an Irish setter that had fallen in.
Dog breeder said that Newfoundlands usually make excellent water rescue dogs not only because of their strength and large size but because of their webbed toes that help them swim.
PDSA’s Order of Merit honors “animals that display outstanding devotion to their owner or wider society, above and beyond normal companionship.” Since 2014, the veterinary charity has honored 10 police horses and two dogs.
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