Weela Watkins

Weela watkins (neatorama.com)

Weela Watkins is a Pit Bull Terrier. She was voted Ken-L Ration's Dog Hero of the Year in 1993. Weela was found in an alley when she was four weeks old with her four siblings. The Watkins family found them in the alley and took them to their ranch on Imperial Beach, California and raised them in their own home. Mrs. Watkins found loving homes for all of the puppies but Weela was just so cute she had to keep her, and thank goodness she did.

Rattlesnake (fish.state.pa.us)

Gary Watkins was 11 years old and was chasing lizards in the Watkins' backyard, when Weela, their dog, ran out of the house and knocked Gary down. Mrs. Watkins was very surprised! Weela was always very kind with the kids. Then Mrs. Watkins was horrified when she saw the rattlesnake jump out of the bushes and sink its poisonous fangs into Weela's face. Weela had sensed the snake's presence and pushed Gary out of the way. Mrs. Watkins rushed outside to see if Weela was ok.

Luckily, Weela recovered from the venomous snake bite. Weela was a hero again in January 1993 when a heavy rain caused a dam to break miles up stream from the Watkins' house. The flood started on the Tijuana River, a narrow three foot wide river. Weela and the Watkins worked hard for six hours to save their neighbors' 12 dogs that were stranded on their neighbors' ranch during the flood. Weela also carried 30-50 pound bags of food on a harnessed backpack across the flood to a little island where 17 dogs and puppies and 1 cat were stranded. The animals were finally evacuated on Valentines Day!

Horse in a flood (thisweeknews.com)

On another occasion, Weela lead a rescue team to 13 horses stranded on a pile of manure completely surrounded by the flood waters. The rescue team took the horses to safe land. Also when Weela was on her way back from one of her deliveries of food, thirty people were in a boat trying to get across the flooded river right where the water got deep and unsafe. Weela would not let them cross; she was barking and running back and forth in the way so they could not cross. Instead Weela led them to safe waters and they got to land.

Can you believe that a 65 pound Pit Bull Terrier could do all of this and still live through it! I think Weela is amazing; she is so smart and the #1 dog hero of the year 1993! To me Weela is a great hero.