The PDSA Gold Medal is an animal bravery award that acknowledges the bravery and devotion to duty of animals. It was created by the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) in 2001, and is now recognised as the animal equivalent of the George Cross

George Cross

The George Cross is the highest civil decoration of the United Kingdom, and also holds, or has held, that status in many of the other countries of the Commonwealth of Nations...

. An animal can be awarded the PDSA Gold Medal if it assists in saving human or animal life when its own life is in danger or through exceptional devotion to duty. The medal can also be awarded to animals in public service, such as police or rescue dogs, if the animal dies or suffers serious injury while carrying out its official duties in the face of armed and violent opposition.

The first ceremony, in November 2002, saw the Gold Medal awarded to three dogs, including Endal

Endal

Endal was a male Labrador retriever in Britain whose abilities as a service dog and as an ambassador for service dog charitable work have had considerable news media coverage....

, an assistance dog

Assistance dog

An assistance dog is a dog trained to aid or assist a person with a disability. Many are trained by a specific organization, while others are trained by their handler .-Classification:...

 whose actions helped to save the life of his disabled owner. The most recent ceremony was held in July 2010, honouring three dogs, Anya, Frodo and Oi, the latter being awarded posthumously. , the PDSA Gold Medal has been awarded 18 times. All recipients to date have been dogs, and all have been British except for Bamse

Bamse (St. Bernard)

Bamse was a St. Bernard that became the heroic mascot of the Free Norwegian Forces during the Second World War...

 who was Norwegian, and George

George (dog)

George, , was a Jack Russell Terrier from New Zealand who was posthumously awarded a PDSA Gold Medal in February 2009. He defended children from an attack by two Pit Bulls but subsequently died of his injuries.-Biography:...

, who was from New Zealand.

Recipients

Date of award	Recipient	Notes	Date of incident	Ref(s)
	Bulla	A police dog who was killed in 1990 after being stabbed while apprehending a man brandishing a knife.
	Metpol Delta Monty	Otherwise known as Monty, a police dog, who overpowered a man wielding a knife despite being stabbed several times.
	Endal Endal Endal was a male Labrador retriever in Britain whose abilities as a service dog and as an ambassador for service dog charitable work have had considerable news media coverage....	A Labrador Retriever Labrador Retriever The Labrador Retriever is one of several kinds of retriever, a type of gun dog. A breed characteristic is webbed paws for swimming, useful for the breed's original purpose of retrieving fishing nets. The Labrador is the most popular breed of dog by registered ownership in Canada, the United...  service dog Service dog A service dog is a type of assistance dog specifically trained to help people who have disabilities including visual or hearing impairment, and also to help people with mental disabilities including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and severe depression...  who pulled his disabled owner into the recovery position Recovery position The recovery position refers to one of a series of variations on a lateral recumbent or three-quarters prone position of the body, in to which an unconscious but breathing casualty can be placed as part of first aid treatment.An unconscious person The recovery position refers to one of a series of...  after he was struck unconscious, then covered him with a blanket. He also retrieved his mobile phone Mobile phone A mobile phone is a device which can make and receive telephone calls over a radio link whilst moving around a wide geographic area. It does so by connecting to a cellular network provided by a mobile network operator...  and pushed it against his face. Endal only left his owner's side to fetch help once he had regained consciousness.
	Orca Orca (dog) Orca is a male golden retriever trained by the UK charity Canine Partners as an assistance dog. he is one of 12 dogs to be awarded the PDSA Gold Medal, the highest award for outstanding bravery and dedication by an assistance dog, for remarkable dedication, tenacity and initiative in saving his...	A Golden Retriever Golden Retriever The Golden Retriever is a medium-sized breed of dog. They were historically developed as gundogs to retrieve shot waterfowl such as ducks and upland game birds during hunting and shooting parties. As such, they were bred to have a soft mouth to retrieve game undamaged and have an instinctive love...  assistance dog Assistance dog An assistance dog is a dog trained to aid or assist a person with a disability. Many are trained by a specific organization, while others are trained by their handler .-Classification:...  who fetched help when his wheelchair-using owner fell into a ditch and was pinned face-down next to the water under her motorised chair. Although the first person he encountered believed he was lost and tried to lead him away, he broke free from his collar and eventually led his owner's neighbour to the scene of the accident.
	Blue	A German Shepherd police dog, who despite being stabbed while tracking a violent suspect, followed the man to his hideout and assisted in his disarming and arrest.
	Zoltan	A police dog who was stabbed while attempting to disarm a man who had been threatening members of the public and the police with a knife.
	Dylan & Cracker	A pair of search-and-rescue dogs from Northern Ireland, the two dogs received their award for their search-and-rescue work including their "exceptionally courageous work" in Turkey following the 1999 İzmit earthquake 1999 Izmit earthquake The 1999 İzmit earthquake was a 7.6 magnitude earthquake that struck northwestern Turkey on August 17, 1999, at about 3:02am local time. The event lasted for 37 seconds, killing around 17,000 people and leaving approximately half a million people homeless... .
	Bamse	A St. Bernard St. Bernard (dog) The St. Bernard is a breed of very large working dog from the Italian and Swiss Alps, originally bred for rescue. The breed has become famous through tales of alpine rescues, as well as for its large size.-Appearance:The St. Bernard is a large dog...  who was a mascot to the Royal Norwegian Navy Royal Norwegian Navy The Royal Norwegian Navy is the branch of the Norwegian Defence Force responsible for naval operations. , the RNoN consists of approximately 3,700 personnel and 70 vessels, including 5 heavy frigates, 6 submarines, 14 patrol boats, 4 minesweepers, 4 minehunters, 1 mine detection vessel, 4 support...  minesweeper, Thorodd, in the Second World War, he knocked a knifeman into the sea, and later saved a crew member from drowning.
	Vinnie, Billy & Jake	Vinnie, Billy and Jake, all sniffer dogs, were honoured as representatives of the 14 police dogs who undertook "life saving work" during the 7 July 2005 London bombings 7 July 2005 London bombings The 7 July 2005 London bombings were a series of co-ordinated suicide attacks in the United Kingdom, targeting civilians using London's public transport system during the morning rush hour.... .
	Ghillie	An English Springer Spaniel English Springer Spaniel The English Springer Spaniel is a breed of gun dog traditionally used for flushing and retrieving game. It is an affectionate, excitable breed with an average lifespan of twelve to fourteen years. Descended from the Norfolk or Shropshire Spaniels of the mid-19th century, the breed has diverged into...  who fetched assistance when his owner's mother collapsed while walking him.
	George George (dog) George, , was a Jack Russell Terrier from New Zealand who was posthumously awarded a PDSA Gold Medal in February 2009. He defended children from an attack by two Pit Bulls but subsequently died of his injuries.-Biography:...	A Jack Russell Terrier Jack Russell Terrier The Jack Russell terrier is a small terrier that has its origins in fox hunting. It is principally white-bodied smooth, rough or broken-coated which is commonly confused with the Parson Russell terrier and the Russell terrier with the term "Jack Russell" commonly misapplied to other small white...  who was killed while shielding a group of children from a pair of attacking Pit Bull Pit bull A Pit bull is any of several breeds of dog in the molosser breed group.Many jurisdictions that restrict pit bulls, including Ontario, Canada,, Miami, Florida, U.S... s.
	Bosnich	A pet black Labrador Retriever Labrador Retriever The Labrador Retriever is one of several kinds of retriever, a type of gun dog. A breed characteristic is webbed paws for swimming, useful for the breed's original purpose of retrieving fishing nets. The Labrador is the most popular breed of dog by registered ownership in Canada, the United...  that led rescuers to his owner's 73-year-old father who had gone missing on the Cumbrian Fells Lake District The Lake District, also commonly known as The Lakes or Lakeland, is a mountainous region in North West England. A popular holiday destination, it is famous not only for its lakes and its mountains but also for its associations with the early 19th century poetry and writings of William Wordsworth... .
	Anya	A police dog who suffered stab wounds to the chest while protecting her handler.
	Frodo	A five-year-old Beagle Beagle The Beagle is a breed of small to medium-sized dog. A member of the Hound Group, it is similar in appearance to the Foxhound, but smaller, with shorter legs and longer, softer ears. Beagles are scent hounds, developed primarily for tracking hare, rabbit, and other game...  who woke his owner and led the family to safety when smoke detectors failed to go off during a house fire.
	Oi	A Staffordshire Bull Terrier Staffordshire Bull Terrier The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is a medium-sized, short-coated, old-time breed of dog. It is an English dog, where it is the 5th most popular breed, and related to the bull terrier...  who saved her owners' lives by fighting off a gang of four machete-wielding assailants. Oi died from cancer before the award was made.

*	Awarded posthumously

See also

• The Dickin Medal
  Dickin Medal
  The Dickin Medal was instituted in 1943 in the United Kingdom by Maria Dickin to honour the work of animals in war. It is a bronze medallion, bearing the words "For Gallantry" and "We Also Serve" within a laurel wreath, carried on a ribbon of striped green, dark brown and pale blue...
  
  , a separate award also administered by the PDSA, which was established by Maria Dickin
  Maria Dickin
  Maria Elisabeth Dickin CBE was an animal welfare pioneer who founded the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals in 1917.-External links:*...
  
  , founder of the PDSA, in 1943, to acknowledge acts of outstanding bravery by animals serving with military forces in theatres of war, and is considered the animal equivalent of the Victoria Cross
  Victoria Cross
  The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
  
  .

External links

• People's Dispensary for Sick Animals