Chris Georgiou of Adelaide, Australia never learned how to swim. When he fell into a pond wearing full winter regalia, it looked to him like the end was near. He was cutting the grass which grew around the pond, located on his trout-fishing farm when he lost his balance and splashed into fifteen feet of water. His border collie, who had followed him down to the water, barked frantically as Georgiou screamed for help and struggled to keep his heavy, water-logged clothing and boots from dragging him under.

"I could hear Ziggy barking furiously. It was a shrill, frightened bark that I'd never heard before. I was coughing and sputtering. Finally, I couldn't fight anymore. I was about to go under for good. Then a miracle happened." As he was going down for the count, his 90 pound rottweiler, Stella came tearing across the field from her napping spot outside the house, some sixty yards away. She flew right into the pond and swam straight for Georgiou, who grabbed her right rear leg. Stella made her way, paddling determinedly to the shallow water, where Georgiou was able to stand, stumble up the bank and collapse.

"The next thing I knew, the two dogs were licking my face and whining for me to get up. Then it hit me: little Ziggy knew he wasn't strong enough to save me--he weighs only twenty-five pounds. So he had barked to Stella, who's strong as a horse, to come save my life. When I got home, I hugged the two of them and cried like a baby. I'd be a dead man if it wasn't for my dogs."

Stella and Ziggy won special medals of heroism from the South Australian Canine Association.

Brea comments: "Just like a rottie, to sleep until absolutely necessary to spring into action. Good thing I learned how to swim, right Mom?"