By Elizabeth Broughton

Last updated at 13:52, Monday, 03 August 2009

An heroic hound whose persistent howling saved the life of a Cumbrian grandfather has been awarded the PDSA’s highest honour.

Bos with owner Lorna Farish

Yesterday Bosnich – known as Bos – became the 15th animal to be awarded a People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) Gold Medal – the animal’s George Cross – for his life-saving devotion.

The brave ten-year-old black lab-cross was honoured for undoubtedly saving the life of Mark Corrie, then 73, after he went missing for two days on the Cumbrian Fells in August 2006.

Thanks to Bos’s persistent howling, two local couples from Cumrew, Brampton, went to investigate and spotted Mr Corrie in a gully, some 100ft down and miraculously alive.

“We’re all proud of him,” said Bos’s owner and Mr Corrie’s daughter, Lorna Farish. “He is a loyal dog and he did a good job, if it was not for the dog dad would still be there, he would never have been found.

“He has been the best dog we’ve had.”

Mr Corrie, who had been out walking Bos when he went missing, was found cold, confused and suffering from dehydration, but was otherwise unharmed.

Phil Farish, Lorna’s husband, added: “We’re really pleased that Bos is being recognised for his loyalty and what he did those two nights on the fell.

“He didn’t desert dad and looked after him until he was able to be found.”

Jim and Susan Burns, from Cumrew – along with neighbours Shelia and Fred Brown – followed Bos’s howling to find Mr Corrie, and were the ones who nominated Bos for the prestigious award.

“Bos was very intelligent,” said Mr Burns. “He didn’t just stay with Mark he had to get up on to the top of the ridge and he howled, he was determined to get somebody to the rescue.”

Mrs Burns added: “Shelia summed it up in an interview shortly after the event when she said at least if I don’t do anything else in my life I’ve done this.

“It gave you a wonderful glow inside to have been involved and to have paid attention to an animal. We couldn’t have lived with ourselves if we hadn’t investigated and then Mr Corrie had died.”

Bos was presented with his award by Michael Bolton, trustee of the PDSA, alongside his family, police search teams, mountain rescue volunteers, RAF Boulmer and Search and Rescue Dog Association (SARDA).

First published at 11:28, Wednesday, 29 July 2009
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk