Heroic hound 'Whizz' gets posthumous award after saving 9 humans
LONDON — A life-saving dog has been honoured with a posthumous award after passing away at the age of 12.
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Whizz the Newfoundland was trained to rescue people from the water. He saved nine humans and one other dog from drowning over the course of his life.
Image: pdsa
Whizz was awarded a PDSA Order of Merit award — given to "animals that display outstanding devotion to their owner or wider society," according to a press release sent to Mashable — which his cousin Tizz accepted on his behalf.
Image: Martin Ellard / Grafic House/via pdsa
Image: pdsa
Toni Curtis from Bristol, UK, was one of the people Whizz helped save after she had an asthma attack in the sea back in 2011.
“I am a proficient swimmer and love to venture out into the deep water," Curtis was quoted as saying in the press release.
"The asthma attack took me by complete surprise and as I was treading water, my airway closing and struggling to breathe, I realised just how isolated I was. I was sure that nobody would see me and panic really set in.
"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.”
Image: David tett/via pdsa
David Pugh, Whizz's owner, said he was "bursting with pride" for his dog.
"He was a dog in a million and I am truly heartbroken that he isn't here to receive his medal," said Pugh.
"Whizz loved working and had an extraordinary talent."
