Hero Dog Earns PETA Award for Watching Over Lost Guardian

For Immediate Release:
May 17, 2022

Contact:
Megan Wiltsie 202-483-7382

A Heroic Dog Award is on its way from PETA to local dog Max, who stayed with his guardian, Sherry Noppe—who was recently diagnosed with dementia—for three days after she became lost while taking him for a walk in George Bush Park in Houston on May 3. Rescuers finally located the pair by following the sound of Max’s barks—even though Noppe’s family reports that he’s typically a quiet dog.

“Max refused to leave his guardian’s side for days until help arrived,” says PETA Senior Vice President Colleen O’Brien. “PETA is honoring this brave, loyal dog and hopes this story inspires everyone to treat dogs as family.”

PETA notes that altruism in other animals is well documented but often overlooked because of speciesism, the misguided belief that all other animals are inferior to humans. For example, gorillas will care for human children, dolphins will come to the aid of swimmers and surfers, ants will help fellow colony members when they’re caught in traps or under attack from a predator, female fruit bats will help each other during labor to ease birth pains, and rats will forgo treats to save a fellow rat who’s drowning.

Max will receive a framed certificate and a special gift basket containing toys and vegan treats.

PETA’s motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to abuse in any way.” For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow the group on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.