Wonder pooch Lily-Rose has been officially voted top dog after she saved the life of doting owner Jenny Deakin and her mother.
The eight-year-old Papillon crossbreed won the historic Blue Cross Medal for extraordinary animal achievement.
First, she leapt on Jenny, 33, as she choked on a snack – the pressure forcing out a nibble that was stuck in her airways.
In a second drama, Lily-Rose roused Jenny after her mum Tina suffered a heart attack in the middle of the night.
A panel of judges were in awe of Lily-Rose’s achievements and awarded her the Blue Cross Medal 2019.
When not life-saving, the dog is a huge help for arthritic Tina. Lily-Rose fetches and carries slippers, the TV remote control and even items of laundry.
Dog groomer Jenny, of Brentford, Middlesex, said: “I owe my life to Lily but it isn’t what she’s done for me that made me nominate her for the medal, it is what she does for my mum on a daily basis.
“She takes care of her every day, gives my mum her independence and gives me piece of mind that I can leave for work every day. My mum suffers from a few health issues, the main one being arthritis in her hips, knees, hands and neck. She struggles picking up dropped items, taking off socks and using the washing machine. We adopted Lily at four months old. We had no idea what a difference she would make to our lives.
“Some of the tasks Lily does, like getting Mum’s slippers, bag, closing the door or picking up the remote control, may not seem much but for my mum they make all the difference in the world.”
On the night of the heart attack, Lily-Rose barked and pawed at Jenny – who then found Tina, 57, crying out for help.
Jenny added: “Without Lily waking me I may not have found my mum in distress. She is a true life-saver and I’m delighted she’s been awarded the Blue Cross Medal.”
Blue Cross has a tradition of recognising both animals and people for extraordinary acts since the charity opened its first animal hospital in 1906.
In 1917 Major Methuen of the King’s Royal Rifles was honoured for saving horses under shellfire on the battlefield in France.
The medal was extended in 1940 to recognise animal bravery and the first winner was La Cloche, a dog that saved its owner from drowning after a German torpedo hit their ship.
