Tara, a tabby from Bakersfield, Calif., has won an honor that so
routinely goes to that other kind of pet, it's known as the Hero
Dog award. This time, the Society for The Prevention of Cruelty to
Animals Los Angeles had to scratch out "dog," and etch "cat" on the
trophy instead.
Who can forget Tara swinging into action in a viral video from
home security cameras last year?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckDVpihCPq8
The dog from next door had crept up on Tara's owner 4-year-old
Jeremy Triantafilo as he played on his bike in the driveway. The
intruder clamped his teeth into Jeremy's leg and began to drag him.
Tara dashed to the rescue, body-slammed the dog, and chased him off
the scene.
Jeremy needed eight stitches in his leg, and says of Tara, "She
is my hero."
AP reports:
"You will usually find Tara close to Jeremy, his father
said.
" 'The neighbor kids come over and play with her. Dogs walk by
all the time. She gets along fine with our dog, Maya. But if Jeremy
falls off his bike, she comes running. If he starts crying, she
comes running,' Triantafilo said. He believes Tara would help
Jeremy's twin brothers, Carson and Conner, if they needed it. She's
grown up with all of them. But there is no question she is partial
to Jeremy, he said. Jeremy and Tara spend a lot of time walking
around and talking with one another."
In addition to the award, Tara wins a year's supply of cat food
and probably many more Internet views.
Tara, a 7-year-old cat, is still keeping a watchful eye over
Jeremy Triantafilo.