A pooch has been awarded a doggie OBE for saving the life of his owner when she got trapped beneath her mobility scooter in a ditch of freezing water.
Disabled Anita Castellina, 62, was unable to move or call for help when she rolled the carriage after swerving to avoid children riding on skateboards.
But help was at hand when wonder dog George the Spaniel paw-sed for thought and went to fetch help before returning to her side to keep her warm.
His heartwarming response has been recognised by the PDSA who have awarded him the prestigious Commendation for animals who have saved or enriched the lives of their companions.
Anita said: “My scooter was on top of me and I couldn’t move and my handbag was underneath me with my mobile in it.
“I had no way of contacting my husband and it was very cold. I was just lying there wallowing in mud.
“My husband is deaf so I signal to George when I need his attention and he will go and get him for me. That’s what I was trying to get through to George when I was lying there and he went off to get help.”
George had been walking with Anita along the promenade close to her home in Thornton-Cleveleys, Lancs., when two youths on skateboards came towards her.
She swerved to avoid them but ended up in the ditch, with no way of getting out.
Knowing his owner was in trouble, George lay beside her and nudged and licked her face to make sure she was alright.
He then ran off to get help, returning a couple of times to check she was alright.
Eventually another dog walker responded to George’s pleas, and rushed to help Anita.
She said: “It’s alright boy, I’m following you. What do you want to show me?
“How this wonderful stranger found the strength to pull the scooter off me I don’t know, but he did.
“All this time George was lying beside me, trying to keep me warm.”
“My husband, who had then come looking for me, helped to get me dry and get me in the car.
“Unfortunately I never had the chance to thank the stranger but I owe my life to George.”
Anita has owned George since he was eight-weeks-old and he has since been trained to help her by charity Dog Assistance in Disability (Dog AID).
Both she and her husband Larry are disabled and they rely on George and other dog Freddie to help them on a daily basis with dropped items, take off items of medication, fetch medication and open doors.
But George went above and beyond to help Anita and she can’t thank him enough.
She added: “He’s so unique in the things he can do to help me, he really is a grand little chap.
“I knew he was special from the moment I held him so I’m delighted for him to get this commendation.”
Check out another amazing doggie life saver here!
