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Pit Bull Named SPCALA's Hero Dog Of The Year

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Diamond is a pit bull. She's officially a hero too.

On Wednesday, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Los Angeles awarded Diamond with their 29th annual National Hero Dog Award.

Hero Pit Bull
Diamond, a pit bull, was named Hero Dog Of the Year by the SPCLA. (credit: CBS)

When her family's Hayward apartment caught fire in October, the dog barked to wake owner Darryl Steen. He rushed to save his daughters, grabbing 9-year-old Darahne and dropping her out a second-story window.

But he couldn't get through the smoke and flames to reach 16-year-old Sierra. Diamond not only wiggled through but shielded the teenager beneath a mattress until firefighters rescued them both.

Sierra and her father were treated for burns and received skin grafts. Diamond spent six weeks at a veterinary hospital recovering from burns and smoke inhalation.

(© Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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