Tara’s trophy: Hero Dog Award given to cat that prevented mutt attack

An adopted cat has made history by becoming the first feline to win a Los Angeles animal shelter’s Hero Dog award. Tara was awarded the honour after fighting off a neighbour’s chow-mix that attacked her six-year-old owner. It happened in May 2014 as Jeremy Triantafilo was riding his bike in the driveway of the family’s home in Bakersfield.

We were so impressed by Tara’s bravery and fast action that the selection committee decided that a cat this spectacular should be the National Hero Dog.

Madeline Bernstein, president of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Los Angeles

Jeremy, who is autistic and needed eight stitches after the attack, says Tara is his “hero”. His father, Roger Triantafilo, said he and Tara spend a lot of time together and she is very protective of him. In special recognition of her actions the word ‘Dog’ was removed from the trophy and the word 'Cat’ etched in.

Odd News