Brave puppy saves owner from car accident to earn honor

 January 10, 2006—The Animal Miracle Foundation has named its “Hero Dog of the Year” for 2006. This year’s courageous canine honoree is Honey, an English Cocker Spaniel puppy from Nicasio, California.

Honey’s feat of heroism began one autumn day in late October. She and her owner, Michael Bosch, were just heading out that morning in Bosch’s SUV when the sunlight blinded him. With his sight momentarily limited, Bosch misjudged the turning range he had between the driveway and a deep ravine running on the other side of the road.  The vehicle, with Bosch and Honey inside, rolled over five times then dropped 50 feet down a ravine and landed upside down. Bosch hung upside down for eight hours, trapped by a tree that had come through the roof of the car, crushing his legs.  He was still recovering from a heart attack he had suffered just two months prior.  The car was on an isolated 70 acres with the nearest neighbor ¼ mile away.  Bosch realized that Honey, who was only 5 months old at the time, was his only possible salvation.  He managed to release her through the gaping hole in the windshield and urged her to find help.

Honey made her way from the accident site through a half-mile of bramble through the thick forest, finally ending up on the doorstep of Robin Allen. Honey pawed at Allen and whimpered for her to follow. According to Allen, Honey literally “was bringing me (to the accident scene). She was directing me.”

When they reached Bosch inside the mangled vehicle, Honey paced back and forth like a worried parent. By the time rescue crews arrived, Bosch’s pulse had weakened and, if not for Honey’s act of heroism, he would not have survived.

Honey’s story becomes all the more remarkable when you consider that Bosch rescued her from a local shelter just two weeks before the accident.

“We chose Honey as the National Dog Day Hero Dog of 2006  because she went above and beyond the call of duty to show she truly is man’s best friend,” said Foundation Director, Paige. “Here was a dog that had just found a new family, but her loyalty was strong enough to save the life of her owner. Honey is the perfect example of everything dogs are capable of; of everything they contribute to our society.”

“I am so honored to have my puppy Honey honored this way,” says Bosch.  “She deserves it – she saved my life.”