The Valor Of D-Boy
It’s official, a pit bull has won the 2009 ‘Dog of Valor’ award.
D-Boy won the award given by the Humane Society of the United States for saving his family from an armed intruder.
D-boy suffered injuries in December after the intruder shot him three times. Oklahoma City residents came to the support of the heroic dog, helping the Shoemaker family with D-boy’s medical expenses.
The Humane Society of United States held an online poll. After more than 6,000 people voted, the Dog of Valor, People’s Hero Award was given to D-Boy.
It was just six months ago, D-boy was recovering after an intruder shot him three times. The dog scared the man out of his family’s house and kept the Shoemakers safe.
“If he wouldn’t have distracted the guy, the guy probably would’ve shot me,” said Roberta Shoemaker. “I didn’t know what to do he told me to get down on the ground, and I was so scared, I couldn’t move.”
D-boy saved the lives of everyone there on that fateful day.
“If he wasn’t there and wouldn’t have done what he did, I could’ve came home to no family,” Angelic Shoemaker said.
The family knows how special D-Boy is and now the rest of the country is showing its love for a dog who went beyond the call of duty. Out of 15 finalists, D-Boy walked away with the Humane Society of the United States’ Dog of Valor award.
“D-boy’s story really touched the heart of the majority of the voters and he won the dog version of the People’s Choice Award,” said Cynthia Armstrong, director of the Oklahoma Humane Society of the U.S.
It’s an honor his family hopes will change people’s views of pit bulls.
“All pits are not bad,” Roberta Shoemaker said. “I mean, just because of the breed of the dog, doesn’t mean they’re bad.”
D-Boy showed the true heart of a hero when he put himself between the gunman and his owner. I can’t think of a more deserving dog to be honored with the Dog of Valor award.
* Pic of D-boy w/family and Cynthia Armstrong of the Oklahoma Humane Society courtesy NewsOn6.com.
I cannot be more happier, hope this will help change people’s views of the bully breeds. They make wonderful family members. I have an AM Staff and she is a 65 pound baby who thinks she is a lap dog. Lady is happy too that a bully won the Dog of Valor 2009. Her brother’s are happy too, they love their bully sister.
Congrats to D-Boy! Along the same lines, our 75-lb. American Bulldog/Olde English Bulldogge would have done the same thing. She’s an absolute lap dog. Mackenzie spoons her Mommy at night but would rip an intruder up in a heartbeat if they broke into our home. Hugs to all the wonderful Bullys out there!
Yeah D-Boy! We voted for you! Pits rock!
HUGE congrats to a wonderful pup! Totally deserved! Standing ovation from the Antipodean end of the Dogster peanut gallery
How scary, I’m glad he survived to be thanked and honored.
Way to go for Pit Bulls. It is so sad what PEOPLE turn individual Pit Bulls into. I have known individual dogs of other breeds that are just as bad; it’s just the Pit Bulls are the fashion dog of the bad people right now.
Hurray for D-Boy, hurray for brave Bullies!
I have two bullies myself, and this story makes me extremely proud, after years of what seems like endless bad press on these wonderful, loyal dogs. And the Shoemakers are totally correct – it’s not the breed that determines a good dog. I wish I could contact them myself and tell them what a wonderful dog they have raised! Good boy!
D-Boy oooo D-Boy, god bless!