Crime-fighting dog awarded Blue Cross Medal

A heroic hound, who counts chasing off burglars among his incredible efforts to keep his owners safe, has won this year's Blue Cross Medal.

Despite a suspected drugging by the thieves, Alaskan malamute Storm blocked them from getting upstairs to his sleeping owner Karen Crosby, potentially protecting her from serious injury and trauma.

The 12-year-old even made the criminals drop their stash, which allowed police to take fingerprints at the home in Wavertree, Liverpool, following the 2019 overnight break-in.

And then in May this year, Storm stepped in again with an incredible act of bravery. Karen was out shopping when a neighbour called to tell her that her house was on fire, with Storm and his three cat friends, Pushkin, Moonlight and Pippin, inside.

When Karen returned, Storm had already pushed two of the cats through a window. He was waiting patiently by the kitchen door to be rescued when help arrived.

Pushkin had collapsed due to smoke inhalation and had to be resuscitated by the fire service, but all four pets survived, largely thanks to Storm.

Karen said: “The fire brigade could not believe how Storm saved two of my cats and trusted that help would soon arrive.

"The police were so impressed they personally took him down the road to his vet to check hadn’t inhaled the smoke or been harmed. The officer would not leave his side and said he was as good as a trained police dog.”

And if that wasn't enough, Storm was also an assistance dog to Karen's husband, Phil, who has two brain injuries as well as epilepsy and vascular dementia.

Before Phil moved into a care home, Storm would help with his walking and gently nudge him if he wasn’t walking in a straight line.

He continues to do this for Karen who has degenerative disc disease and little sensation in her left leg. She also has visual field problems and tinnitus, so Storm helps her to check the traffic before crossing the road as well as alerting her to the telephone and doorbell at home.

With further daily support for Karen, Storm senses and alerts her before she has an attack due to her fibromyalgia and asthma. If an attack is imminent, he won’t leave her side and comforts her with the pain.

Karen continues: “Storm is a hero to me for everything he has done and continues to do. He was the runt of the litter but has proved himself to be anything but. I'm over the moon that he has won the Blue Cross Medal, it was amazing news. I never expected he would win and I'm so proud of him.”

Storm becomes the recipient of the historic Blue Cross Medal in our charity's 125th year after beating off stiff competition from 650 nominations for other remarkable pets.

More than half of the nominations were for pets who help their owners day to day with mental health issues and over 10 per cent of the nominations were for those helping children’s wellbeing, either within the family or in their local community by visiting schools and youth groups.

Chris Burghes, Blue Cross Chief Executive,says: “Being on the judging panel for the winner of this year’s award was an almost impossible task. We were particularly moved by the number of pets who really do help their owners’ mental health, some even preventing their owners from taking their own lives.

"It was a very close call but Storm came out on top. He is an amazing pet that has been such a valued member of the family when they have gone through so much. Congratulations to him and each and every pet who supports their owners in both day-to-day life and with incredible acts like Storm.”

The Blue Cross Medal began in 1917 during World War One for people who helped animals and today celebrates heroic pets who are changing or saving lives across the UK – with one extra special pet being awarded each year.