Life-saving dog gets medal honour

Cheryl Smith said Orca deserved public recognition for saving her life

A golden retriever that saved the life of his owner when her wheelchair plunged into a ditch has been rewarded with a medal for his devotion to duty.

Orca ran more than a mile to get help after Cheryl Smith's wheelchair struck a brick and fell into the ditch in York trapping her face-down in rainwater.

Fire crews who rescued Ms Smith said the dog's actions had saved her life.

Orca received the PDSA gold medal for bravery and devotion to duty - seen by many as the George Cross for animals.

Ms Smith had been walking Orca, an assistance dog trained by the charity Canine Partners, along a dirt track near Holmefield Lane in Heslington in May 2003 when the drama unfolded.

She said it was fantastic to see his efforts rewarded.

"I'd only had him five weeks so I did think it was a bit much to ask of him to come back at that stage, but he really came through for me.

Blue was helping Pc Proctor to find a violent man when he was stabbed

"I've always known he's brilliant but it's really nice that he's got public recognition for what he's done."

He was one of three dogs to be presented with the award during a ceremony at the police dog training headquarters in Wakefield.

West Yorkshire Police dog Blue was stabbed in the shoulder while assisting in the arrest of a violent man in March 2005.

His handler Pc Dave Proctor said Blue refused to give up until officers had caught the offender and described the dog as "an absolute hero".

Zoltan, a police dog with the Cleveland force, was stabbed in the chest while attending a a domestic dispute in Stockton in April 2005.