Read the original article by Grace Palmieri at azcentral.com here.
He was already Dog of the Year in our hearts, but now it’s official.
Todd the hero dog was recognized as the first-ever Milk-Bone Dog of the Year at the 2018 Streamy Awards, an annual event highlighting the biggest names in online video, on Monday night.
The Golden Retriever puppy was thrust into the Internet spotlight when he saved his owner, Paula Godwin, from a rattlesnake bite while hiking in north Phoenix in late June.
Godwin was walking with her two dogs when Todd, then two months old, jolted toward her leg, taking a bite to the face.
“It would have stuck me for sure in the leg, but Todd got in the way,” Godwin said after the incident in an interview with The Arizona Republic. “I don’t know if it was intentional or not, but he definitely saved me from being bitten, so that’s why I call him my hero.”
Godwin posted on Facebook about the heroic act, and the story soon went viral.
As Todd recovered from the bite, he was being recognized across the country and the world as a hero.
He was even honored at an Arizona Diamondbacks game the following week.
His heroism landed Todd a nomination in the Streamys’ newest category: Dog of the Year.
He faced off against two fellow good dogs: Louboutina, aka The Hugging Dog, who’s known for wrapping strangers in her loving embrace on the streets of New York City; and Pierre Don’t Care, a volunteer therapy dog at UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital and LAX airport who’s known for his one-of-a-kind style.
People voted on Twitter for the dog of their choice.
And Todd ultimately walked away with the title.
“It’s about time we start honoring our pets,” Godwin said during her acceptance speech. “I want to say thank you to the voters that voted for Todd. He is my hero, and he is so worthy.”
