Terrier Honored for Saving Family From Poisonous Gas

Miley the dog is sitting a little bit prettier today. The terrier mix, once rescued by a family who found her on the railroad tracks in Van Buren, Ark., saved her owners late last year by alerting them to poisonous carbon-monoxide gases in their home. Miley was honored by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Los Angeles on Tuesday, receiving their 27th Annual National Hero Dog Award for her job well done.

It all happened on Dec. 7 of last year, as Miley's owner Stacie Pitts and her family were asleep. Unbeknownst to them, carbon monoxide was seeping into their air supply. Miley sensed this, and relentlessly tried to wake everyone up, finally succeeding when Pitts began to feel sick. She woke the rest of her family and called 911, complaining of headaches and nausea. The Pitts were treated at a local hospital – and doctors said they could have died or suffered brain damage had they stayed in the house for five minutes longer. Luckily, Miley did not show any effects of carbon-monoxide poisoning.

As her reward Tuesday – aside from a lot of love! – Miley received a plaque recognizing her good deed, as well as a gift basket full of treats and a year's supply of dog food from Natural Pet Products. But the greatest reward? Having her owners around to care for her for years to come.

Kate Hogan