Dogs are capable of some pretty heroic actions, and Teddy the cockapoo proved that by saving the five-year-old Riley Gedge-Duffy. It’s such “Dog saves boy or girl” stories that are always the most touching and this is no exception.
The little boy who has Down’s syndrome had made the mistake of climbing inside his parents’ clothes dryer.
As the kid went in the machine and closed the door, the dryer started working automatically. The boy knew he was in trouble immediately, but there was nothing he could do from inside the machine. Fortunately, there was someone else who understood that there’s a problem – Teddy the cockapoo.
The biscuit-colored dog started barking and darted upstairs to alert Gillian Gedge-Duffy – Riley’s mother – that there is trouble.
Mrs Gedge-Duffy later shared: “We immediately started looking for Riley and it was our eldest son Freddie who spotted Riley’s iPad in the tumble dryer through the glass door.
“Freddie screamed and I quickly opened the door, dragging Riley out of the dryer. We started dousing him with cold water.”
Aaron Gedge-Duffy – the boy’s father – arrived home at the same time and immediately ran the young boy under a cold shower to minimise his burns.
After that, the parents rushed Riley into a hospital for burns treatment. Fortunately, there were no other injuries, internal or external, and the boy has made a full recovery.
And all that is thanks to Teddy.
Mr Gedge-Duffy said: “Teddy has always been a special dog – she’s very intelligent, attentive and she loves the children, but I am totally in awe of how she acted that day.
“I know if Teddy hadn’t have done what she did, we’d have been planning a funeral. We owe her everything and I’m so proud of her.”
And Teddy is getting the recognition she deserves – she was honored by veterinary charity PDSA with one of its most prestigious decorations – the PDSA Gold Medal. This medal is awarded to civilian animals that have performed life-saving heroic acts, just like Teddy did. The award is often called “The animals’ George Cross” and it’s been awarded to 26 other dogs before Teddy in its 16-year history.
