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The PDSA Gold Medal is an animal bravery award that acknowledges the bravery and devotion to duty of animals. It was created by the
People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) in 2001, and is now recognised as the animal equivalent of the
George Cross.
[ The Gold Medal is considered as the civilian equivalent to PDSA's Dickin Medal for military animals. An animal can be awarded the PDSA Gold Medal if it assists in saving human or non-human life when its own life is in danger or through exceptional devotion to duty. The medal can also be awarded to animals in public service, such as ]police
The police are a constituted body of persons empowered by a state, with the aim to enforce the law, to ensure the safety, health and possessions of citizens, and to prevent crime and civil disorder. Their lawful powers include arrest and th ...
or rescue dogs
Pet adoption is the process of transferring responsibility for a pet that was previously owned by another party such as a person, shelter, or rescue organization. Common sources for adoptable pets are animal shelters and rescue groups. Some or ...
, if the animal dies or suffers serious injury while carrying out its official duties in the face of armed and violent opposition.
The first ceremony, in November 2002, saw the Gold medal awarded to three dogs, including Endal, an assistance dog
In general, an assistance dog, known as a service dog in the United States, is a dog trained to aid or assist an individual with a disability. Many are trained by an assistance dog organization, or by their handler, often with the help of a prof ...
whose actions helped to save the life of his disabled owner.[ , the PDSA Gold Medal has been awarded to 29 different animals. All recipients were dogs until 2020, when a mine-sniffing African giant pouched rat named Magawa received the prize. The majority of recipients have been British. Non-British recipients include ]Bamse
''Bamse – Världens starkaste björn'' () is a Swedish cartoon created by Rune Andréasson. The highly popular children's cartoon first emerged as a series of television short films as well as a weekly Comic strip formats#Half page, half-page ...
, who was Norwegian, George
George may refer to:
People
* George (given name)
* George (surname)
* George (singer), American-Canadian singer George Nozuka, known by the mononym George
* George Washington, First President of the United States
* George W. Bush, 43rd Presid ...
and Gage, both from New Zealand, Ajax, who was Spanish,[ and Magawa, who was Tanzanian.][
]
Recipients
See also
*The Dickin Medal, a separate award also administered by the PDSA, which was established by Maria Dickin
Maria Elisabeth Dickin CBE (nickname, Mia; 22 September 1870 – 1 March 1951) was a social reformer and an animal welfare pioneer who founded the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) in 1917. The Dickin Medal is named for her.
Ea ...
, founder of the PDSA, in 1943, to acknowledge acts of outstanding bravery by animals serving with military forces in theatres of war, and is considered the animal equivalent of the Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest and most prestigious award of the British honours system. It is awarded for valour "in the presence of the enemy" to members of the British Armed Forces and may be awarded posthumously. It was previously ...
.
* Swansea Jack
Swansea Jack (1930 – October 1937) was a famous Welsh dog who rescued 27 people from the docks and riverbanks of Swansea, Wales.
Life
Swansea Jack was a black retriever with a longish coat. He was similar in appearance to a modern Fl ...
(1930–1937), twice decorated by the '' National Canine Defence League'' before the introduction of the PDSA Gold Medal
References
External links
People's Dispensary for Sick Animals website
The PDSA Animal Awards Programme
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pdsa Gold Medal
George Cross
Awards established in 2002
Awards to animals
2002 establishments in the United Kingdom