Bravery Award to Rottweiler Cross and Staffy

[TrinaJ]

This is a follow-up to the story of the two dogs in QLD who rescued a toddler from drowing in a damn.

They have been awarded the Purple Cross for their bravery.

Story as follows:

Two dogs win top bravery awards
2:42p.m. 20 March 2008
-By Roberta Mancuso

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 honoured on Thursday 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.

Top bravery award for dogs which saved child | NEWS.com.au

[Lola B Marie]

Thanks so much for posting this. Good press is so often overlooked as people tend to focus on the horrible things when it comes to our breed . It's just so heart warming to be able to visualize these two dogs working together to save a child. Great story!!!

[Jaidann]

OMG how cool is that!

Great article .. thanks for posting :)

[harleychik66]

It always puts a smile on my face to hear of stories like these. Good for Tank, Muck and their owners. Both dogs did their respective breeds proud.

[cerulean]

Wow, what a great followup, thanks for posting this !!!