Kathie Vaughn, paralyzed from the waist down, began an all night drive in her custom designed van, accompanied by Eve, her 104 pound rottweiler. Twenty minutes later, something under the hood exploded and the van swerved all over the road while Kathie struggled to bring it under control. When the vehicle came to a stop, Kathie flung her door open and commanded the dog out of the car, which was rapidly filling with smoke. Once she thought that Eve was safe, Kathie fought feverishly to put her wheelchair together.

Despite the command which she had obeyed at first, Eve leaped back into the van and caught hold of Kathie's arm. Frantic to protect her dog, Kathie once again ordered her to leave the car. Fortunately for Kathie, Eve refused. She grabbed Kathie's disabled leg and dragged her out of the van and ten feet away, while Kathie lost consciousness. She awoke to an immense explosion, which so frightened Eve that she tugged her owner another twenty feet. Ever vigilant, Eve initially resisted the attempts of the police to move Kathie to their own vehicle. "They say dogs have no reasoning power, but I pushed her out of the truck and she returned, against all her natural instincts to save me."

1992 Winner of the William O. Stillman Award