NOT ALL HEROES WEAR CAPES Sydney Royal Canine Hero Award, Companion Dog

The Sydney Royal Canine Hero Award celebrates and awards canine companions who have performed extraordinary feats in the service of their humans.

Without phone or radio, Pete Stevenson regained consciousness laying on the ground out in a back paddock of his Garoo, NSW property. He was alone except for his three working kelpies. It was an early morning cattle muster, on horseback, collecting a few heifers to bring back to the mob. Pete hadn’t realised it, but the hill he was cantering across was undermined by rabbit warrens. The hole-ridden ground collapsed, causing the horse to flip and somersault while Pete was still in the saddle. The impact of horse and man crashing down fractured Pete’s pelvis in two places, dislocated his shoulder, broke his hand, sternum and 4 ribs, and collapsed a lung. His stomach muscles were ripped off the front of his pelvic bone, and as he would discover later, the separation was only 3mm away from causing him to bleed out and die that day, right there in the paddock.

What was supposed to be a quick 20-minute muster became a fight for his life. Pete’s horse survived the fall, but there was no way Pete could climb back on to return home. Had it not been for his dogs, Pete and his family hate to think what may have transpired that day.

Who can explain how dogs communicate together so perfectly? Who knows how they do what they do? However it happens, the instinctive nature of Pete’s closest companions is nothing short of miraculous.

The old bitch, Nell, stayed with Pete, carefully keeping curious cattle away and always returning to sit next to him. Most of Pete’s injuries were on his left side, old Nell carefully stayed on his right side, away from Pete’s injuries.

Fearful that he might not be found unless in a paddock gateway, Pete dragged himself to the nearest gate, about 30metres away, throwing up the whole way due to the overwhelming pain.

Fred, the second dog, guided the horse safely home along the fence line. Working dogs know that mustering horses is not what they normally do, but this day, Fred knew this was his job.

But it was old Pistol who likely saved Pete’s life that morning. Pistol ran 5kms, across two paddocks, then jumped into the back of the side-by-side buggy to get the attention of the Station-hand. Pistol is extremely loyal and was known to never leave Pete’s side, so for him to suddenly appear with Pete nowhere in sight, the Station-hand knew something wasn’t right. He took the side-by-side to where he thought Pete was mustering and found him, semi-conscious, leaning up against the gateway.

The Westpac helicopter delivered Pete to emergency for life-saving care, and he has since fully recovered, but it is the coordination of these three dogs that, to this day, make Pete, and his wife, cry tears of joy and gratitude. These working dogs knew exactly how and what each of them needed to do care for the horse, protect Pete from cattle, and get immediate, emergency help.

The Sydney Royal is proud to recognise and reward Pistol for his efforts, he is the epitome of a Canine Hero Companion Dog.