GALLOWAY (Scotland) — You think you've got problems?  An unwanted, deaf Dalmatian with behavioral issues and a malformed jaw still found time to save the life of a drowning girl, according to a report in the Galloway News yesterday.

When five-year-old Georgia Peck fell into a swift river at Corsock Mill and was swept from shore on Sunday, "Sophie" the pup instinctively knew to swim over to the thrashing youngster and drag her back to safety.

"As soon as I fell in Sophie came over and got me," Georgia says.  "I held on to her paw, and she swam with me to the side.

"I couldn't have got out of the water without Sophie's paw.  She saved me.  She couldn't hear me screaming but still saved me."

Had six-month-old Sophie not been present at the time, the incident almost certainly would have ended in tragedy.  A friend of the family, Ann Clement, describes: "[Georgia's] mum heard the screams from the house but by the time she got there, the dog had already dragged Georgia three quarters of the way out and was still with her." 

Sophie, one of 10 newborn Dalmatian pups in a litter, had been found to be almost completely deaf just a few months ago.  "Everything that could go wrong with the 10-strong litter went wrong with Sophie," says breeder Robbie McHenry who raised the litter.  "She is almost deaf, has one blue and one brown eye and her jawline is also twisted, meaning we have to break all her treats up for her."

Ms. McHenry was advised to have the dog put to sleep, but, she says, "by that time she was seven weeks old and had developed her own character, I just couldn't do it."

For several weeks Ms. McHenry has been trying to find a home for the pup and only temporarily left Sophie with the Peck family on Saturday night in order to try to socialize her with another pup from Sophie's litter.  The next day was when the "defective" Dalmatian puppy got the chance to show off an impressive skill that hitherto had gone unrecognized:

"...the dog was a great swimmer to have pulled Georgia the distance she did," Ms. McHenry says.  "Perhaps because of her other difficulties it made her swimming all the stronger."

Although eternally grateful to her for her heroism, the Peck family has decided against adopting Sophie.  For the time being, the miracle deaf dog remains with Ms. McHenry in Kirkcudbright; she is still looking for a home for the pup and would also appreciate assistance with the dog's special training.  Anyone who wishes to help may call Robbie McHenry at 01557 339140.