“These incredible animals remind us that the bond between humans and their pets goes far beyond companionship—it’s a partnership of trust, loyalty, and sometimes, life-saving bravery. As pet people, we are proud to share these inspiring stories,” said Jenn Terra, VP Marketing, Nestlé Purina PetCare Canada. “Since 1968, the Animal Hall of Fame has celebrated remarkable pets, and these two new inductees join a long list of animals whose acts of heroism have touched countless lives.”

The 2024 Purina Animal Hall of Fame Inductees:

Bear (Bonfield, ON)

On a quiet night in October, around 4:00 a.m., Bear, a Siberian Husky and Golden Retriever mix, abruptly woke his owner, Janice, by jumping on her in bed and howling in her ear. As Janice awoke, she noticed her husband of 35 years, Darren, was not in bed. Following the fast paws of Bear down the stairs, Janice found Darren unconscious in the family room with Bear jumping on his chest. Janice immediately called the paramedics and Darren was rushed to the hospital where doctors discovered that Darren had suffered a widowmaker heart attack. Once Darren, a Canadian Armed Forces veteran, awoke in the hospital, doctors noted that before Janice found him, he was likely unconscious for three hours and the jumping Bear had performed repeatedly was an effective form of CPR that kept Darren alive. Born from two former service dogs, Bear has always been Darren’s closest companion, and now, Darren calls Bear the family’s furry hero who was born to serve.

Maggie May (Guelph, ON)

After suffering heart failure months earlier, Martin spent his days recovering at home, with Maggie May, a Red Fox Labrador Retriever close beside him to ensure he was safe and happy. To manage his new condition and lack of mobility, Martin was given heart medication and arranged a main floor bedroom where Maggie May kept him company every day. On a cold night in March of 2023, Maggie May alerted Martin’s wife, Amy, who was in the upstairs part of their house, and guided her downstairs to where Amy found Martin out of his bed and the back door unlocked and wide open. Maggie May ran outside and Amy followed, finding her husband in the middle of a snowdrift in a catatonic state. After dialing 911, paramedics informed Amy that Martin’s new medication likely caused hallucinations and made him disoriented which caused him to go outside. Once Martin was stabilized, doctors said if Maggie May did not alert Amy, Martin may not have made it. Martin and Amy are grateful for their 9-year-old furry companion and now call her their Super Hero Pup!

With the addition of two new inductees, 166 dogs, 27 cats and one horse are amongst the heroic animals that exemplify remarkable intuition and unwavering dedication to their humans, earning their rightful place in the hall of fame.

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The Purina Animal Hall of Fame is the longest running Canadian pet-recognition program in history, celebrating outstanding acts of animal heroism since 1968. To date and including this year’s newest inductees, there have been 189 animals (161 dogs, 27 cats and one horse) inducted into the program. The three dogs joining the ranks in 2022 were inducted due to their incredible intuition and dedication to their humans.

“The connection between pet and person is an unbreakable bond and each year we are amazed by the ways in which loyal animals save human lives,” said Jenn Terra, VP Marketing, Nestlé Purina PetCare Canada. “This year’s inductees have shown an incredible ability to sense trouble and take action, rescuing their people in distress.”

Daisy’s Mom Keri Kasaboski was working from her office in the basement of their home, responding to some emails. As her office assistant, Daisy was sitting on the couch next to Keri, waiting for her next task or treat. Her husband, Darin, who had wrapped up a midnight shift earlier that day, was fast asleep in their bedroom upstairs.

Suddenly, Keri felt a “popping” in her brain and she collapsed to the floor. Daisy quickly ran to Keri’s side and sat beside her, licking her face, and rousing her. She couldn’t get up. Keri started calling for Darin, but her voice was weak, and she was drifting in and out of consciousness, so her husband couldn’t hear her. Daisy then darted up the stairs & jumped on the bed where Darin was sleeping.

Darin awoke to Daisy licking his arm and found it unusual behaviour for their pup but thought maybe she just needed to go outside for a washroom break. Darin got up expecting to take Daisy outside, but instead she beelined for the basement. Now hearing Keri’s cry for help, Darin ran down the stairs to the basement behind Daisy and found her lying on the floor. He immediately called 911.

Keri suffered from a Right Ischemic Stroke. Daisy’s swift actions helped Keri get to the hospital for treatment, before the damage was permanent. The doctors were able to completely remove the blood clot that resulted in Keri’s stroke, leaving no residual effects. Keri has thankfully made a full recovery!

Read the full story here (link)

Foreman was born to be a life-saving service dog. A true hero that has helped save the life of his human, Sinéad Zalitach, numerous times since being placed with her in November 2019.

Sinéad has an exceptionally rare and life-threatening condition called Parkes Weber Syndrome, affecting fewer than 800 people worldwide. Due to the rarity of Parkes Weber Syndrome, there aren’t many treatment options for those who live with it.

One chilly November night, Sinéad was awoken from her sleep by licks and nudges from Foreman, who was alerting her to bleeding from arteriovenous malformations (also known as hemorrhaging) in her foot. Foreman quickly sprang into action and retrieved her first aid kit, with bandages, gauze, and a tourniquet, from the shelf beside her bed, as well as her phone, so she could call for help. Without Foreman, it’s very possible that Sinéad would have bled to death in her sleep, or while trying to get help for herself.

Foreman also regularly detects and alerts Sinéad to dangerous blood pressure and heart rate fluctuations, that if undetected would result in fainting.

Foreman is a one-of-a-kind service dog, performing life-saving acts each & every day.

Read the full story here (link)

Krypto was named by his 6-year-old best friend Jack Harrison who is the biggest Superman fan ever. Little did anyone know that he would live up to his Superhero name in a big way.

The Harrison family was all fast asleep one October evening when Dad Kyle was abruptly awoken by Krypto’s wet tongue licking his face. He ignored Krypto at first, in favour of a solid night of sleep, but Krypto quickly came back with more aggressive licking, pawing, and nudging with his nose. Now awake and suddenly aware that Krypto’s behaviour was very out of character, as he had always been a great night sleeper, he got out of bed. Kyle looked out the window and saw bright orange flames shooting up the side of their house. He ran downstairs and realized that their deck and the side of their house were on fire, with flames now as high as the second storey. Mom Jackie and Kyle quickly got their son and Krypto outside and called for help.

The fire chief believed the cause of the fire was from some grease drippings from the BBQ that sparked and smoldered under the deck before igniting. The fire alarm did not go off as the smoke was outside, so if Krypto had not alerted Kyle when he did, the flames would have gotten into the roof and attic and spread quickly through the house. And with the fire only 3 meters from the gas tank, the family got out just in time.

The fire fully destroyed the deck, the exterior house siding was melted, and the brick was charred. Everyone that mattered that day was safe because of Krypto.

Read the full story here (link)

For more information about the Purina Animal Hall of Fame visit www.purinahalloffame.ca.

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