Rzepa, a German shepherd dog, and Rumba, a black Labrador, have won the Poland’s National Hero Dog Awards.

Rumba, a 4 year old lovable pooch demonstrated an uncanny instinct when she rushed to help a drowning child and hauled it safely to the beach.

Her owner, Wanda Wajda, recalls her surprise when the dog suddenly jumped into the sea. She did not know what was happening until she saw Rumba assisting a child, she said. In her everyday day life Rumba is performing an important task as a trained companion dog for the owner’s handicapped daughter.

In the category of dogs trained to rescue people, the top prize was captured by Rzepa. The seven year old dog has taken part in 70 rescue actions and has saved three lives.

Two years ago she helped locate a boy who ran away into the forest after a quarrel with his parents. Sixty policemen were searching for the boy but it was Rzepa, who found him and led officers to so quietly that she did not even wake up the sleeping fugitive.

This has been the second time the contest was organized, sponsored by a group of foundations which train dogs for special tasks.It is meant to popularize heroic dogs, both specially trained rescuers as well as ordinary neighborhood canines, who saved people. (kk)