Cumbrian dog awarded posthumously for saving owners from gas leak

A dog prevented a potentially deadly incident after waking up his sleeping owners to alert them they had left the gas on.

Australian terrier Rio, from Harrington, near Workington, Cumbria, barked and took his owner down to the kitchen where one of the cooker’s rings had been accidently left on without a flame, allowing gas to escape.

“Without Rio, we would have slept through the night completely unaware of the gas leak,” owner Alison Tams said. “We owe him everything.”

Rio, who died in April the day after his 12th birthday, has now been recognised posthumously with a commendation award from vet charity PDSA.

Rio was settled in for the night with his family in July last year when his behaviour suddenly changed.

Normally calm and affectionate, he became restless, repeatedly jumping on and off the bed, barking, pacing and refusing to settle.

At first owners Phil and Alison Tams could not understand what was wrong.

When Alison finally got out of bed, Rio immediately ran to the bedroom door and towards the stairs, repeatedly returning to make sure she followed, she recalled.

He barked until he reached the kitchen where he stood beside the cooker and Alison could smell gas.

“Rio was completely different that night,” she said.

“He was panicked, determined and absolutely insistent that we follow him.

“He simply would not stop until we understood what he was trying to tell us.”

Alison switched off the gas and opened the windows, while Rio watched on.

Having completed his mission, he returned upstairs to bed.

The PDSA commendation is one of four awards within the Animal Awards Programme and recognises animals whose devotion, companionship and everyday actions have made an exceptional difference to the lives of people.

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