PDSA Order of Merit
The PDSA Order of Merit is known as the animals’ OBE. It recognises animals that display outstanding devotion to their owner or wider society, above and beyond normal companionship – and represents an exceptional example of the special relationship between animals and humans.
The inaugural award, in 2014, recognised horses and dogs serving with the Metropolitan Police.
Recipients could include service animals, such as those in the police force, assistance dogs or medical detection dogs. By creating the PDSA Order of Merit, we can ensure that all extraordinary animal contributions to society can now be formally recognised and honoured, however and wherever they occur.
To date, we have awarded the PDSA Order of Merit to 41 animals, including 12 horses and 29 dogs.
Police Horse Grace
Metropolitan Police
Date of award: 17 July 2019
'For an exemplary career of tireless devotion and service to society. 2004-2019.'
Police Horse Keston (posthumous)
Metropolitan Police
Date of award: 17 July 2019
'For an exemplary career of tireless devotion and service to society. 2007-2019.'
Read more about Grace and Keston
Metropolitan Police: London Riots
Bow Street Stables
Police Horse no.100 Defender
Police Horse no.97 Judge
Police Horse no.106 Kensington (posthumous)
Police Horse no.81 Livingstone
Kings Cross Stables
Police Horse no.90 Boris
Police Horse no.109 Laurel
Police Horse no.62 General
Police Horse no.16 Deats
Great Scotland Yard Stables
Police Horse no.46 Hector (posthumous)
Police Horse no.96 Intrepid
Date of award: 17 June 2014
‘For their actions during the 2011 London riots.’
Fire Investigation Dog Reqs
British Fire Service
Date of award: 23 November 2023
'For an 11-year career of distinguished service with Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, 2012-2023.'
Police Dog (PD) Doky
National Police Department of the Balearic Islands
Date of award: awarded posthumously for service between 2009 – 2019
'For a distinguished career and outstanding devotion to duty with the National Police Department of the Balearic Islands, 2009-2019.'
Clive
Medical Detection Dog
Date of award: 14 July 2022
'For life-changing devotion to his owner, Michelle Sutherland, as a Medical Detection Dog and a constant companion.'
Police Dog (PD) Dexter
Metropolitan Police Dog
Date of award: 14 July 2022
'For outstanding devotion to duty as a Wellbeing Dog with the Metropolitan Police Service.'
Jerry
Service Dogs UK
Date of award: 14 July 2022
'For life-changing devotion to his owner, Mark Lanchbery, as a PTSD Assistance Dog and for his work as a veteran mentor with Service Dogs UK.'
Oliver
Justice Support Dogs International
Date of award: 14 July 2022
'For devotion to duty and service to society, as an Assistance Dog providing comfort and support to vulnerable victims throughout the Criminal Justice System.'
Zak
Hampshire Search and Rescue Dogs
Date of award: 14 July 2022
'For an 11-year career of distinguished service with Hampshire Search and Rescue Dogs, 2009- 2020.'
Skye
Mountain Search and Rescue Dog
Date of award: 31 March 2022
'For an 11-year career of distinguished service with Mountain Search and Rescue Teams in the Lake District, 2009-2020'
AJ
Royal Air Force Police Dog
Date of award: 11 August 2021
‘For a career of exemplary service to society with Number 4 RAF Police (Typhoon) Squadron, 2014-2019.’
Alfie
Royal Air Force Police Dog
Date of award: 11 August 2021
‘For a career of exemplary service to society with Number 4 RAF Police (Typhoon) Squadron, 2011-2017.’
Max
Date of award: 19 February 2021
‘For providing comfort and support to thousands of people worldwide and promoting the positive contribution animals make to human lives.’
Charlie
Dorset Search Dogs
Date of award: 15 October 2019
'For ten years of tireless service to society, from 2005 to 2015, with Dorset Search Dogs and other partner rescue services.'
Special Operations Canine, Hurricane
US Secret Service
Date of award: 4 October 2019
'For tireless devotion and service to society, protecting the President of the United States, 22 October 2014'
PD Bruno
British Transport Police Explosive Search Dog
Date of award: 30 May 2019
Police Dog Bruno received the PDSA Order of Merit on behalf of all the British Transport Police Explosive Search Dogs that served in the aftermath of the terror attack on Westminster Bridge, 22 March 2017.
'For tireless devotion to duty and service to society, following the terrorist attack on Westminster Bridge, 22 March 2017'
Read more about the British Transport Police and Metropolitan Police Dogs
PD Jax
British Transport Police General Purpose Dog
Date of award: 30 May 2019
Police Dog Jax received the PDSA Order of Merit on behalf of all the British Transport Police General Purpose Dogs that served in the aftermath of the terror attack on Westminster Bridge, 22 March 2017.
'For tireless devotion to duty and service to society, following the terrorist attacks on London Bridge and Borough Market, 3 June 2017'
Read more about the British Transport Police and Metropolitan Police Dogs
PD Marci
British Transport Police General Purpose Dog
Date of award: 30 May 2019
Police Dog Marci received the PDSA Order of Merit on behalf of all the British Transport Police General Purpose Dogs that served in the aftermath of the terror attack on London Bridge and Borough Market, 3 June 2017.
'For tireless devotion to duty and service to society, following the terrorist attacks on London Bridge and Borough Market, 3 June 2017'
Read more about the British Transport Police and Metropolitan Police Dogs
PD Bobby
British Transport Explosive Search Dog
Date of award: 30 May 2019
Police Dog Bobby received the PDSA Order of Merit on behalf of all the British Transport Police Explosive Search Dogs that served in the aftermath of the terror attack on London Bridge and Borough Market, 3 June 2017.
'For tireless devotion to duty and service to society, following the terrorist attacks on London Bridge and Borough Market, 3 June 2017'
Read more about the British Transport Police and Metropolitan Police Dogs
PD Delta
Metropolitan Police Firearms Support Dog
Date of award: 30 May 2019
Police Dog Delta received the PDSA Order of Merit on behalf of all the Metropolitan Police Firearms Support Dogs that served in the aftermath of the terror attack on London Bridge and Borough Market, 3 June 2017.
'For tireless devotion to duty and service to society, following the terrorist attacks on London Bridge and Borough Market, 3 June 2017'
Read more about the British Transport Police and Metropolitan Police Dogs
PD Dave
Metropolitan Police Explosive Detection Dog
Date of award: 30 May 2019
Police Dog Dave received the PDSA Order of Merit on behalf of all the Metropolitan Police Explosive Detection Dogs that served in the aftermath of the terror attack on London Bridge and Borough Market, 3 June 2017.
'For tireless devotion to duty and service to society, following the terrorist attacks on London Bridge and Borough Market, 3 June 2017'
Read more about the British Transport Police and Metropolitan Police Dogs
PD Kai
Metropolitan Police Explosive Detection Dog
Date of award: 30 May 2019
Police Dog Kai received the PDSA Order of Merit on behalf of all the Metropolitan Police Explosive Detection Dogs that served in the aftermath of the terror attacks on London: Westminster Bridge, 22 March 2017, London Bridge and Borough Market, 3 June 2017.
'For tireless devotion to duty and service to society, following the terrorist attacks on Westminster Bridge, London Bridge and Borough Market, 3 June 2017'
Read more about the British Transport Police and Metropolitan Police Dogs
Pal
Medical Detection Dog
Date of award: 17 April 2019
'For life-changing devotion to his owner, Claire Pearson, as a Medical Detection Dog and a constant companion'
Police Dog Mojo
British Transport Police Dog
Date of award: 26 October 2018
'For tireless devotion to duty and service to society, following the Manchester Arena terror attack, 22 May 2017.'
Cracker (Lucy)
Fire Service Investigation Dog Manchester Fire and Rescue Service
Date of award: 26 October 2018
'For tireless devotion to duty and service to society, following the Manchester Arena terror attack, 22 May 2017.'
Echo
Search and Rescue dog for Manchester Fire and Rescue Service and UK Fire Service Overseas Response Team.
Date of award: 26 October 2018
'For outstanding devotion to duty while deployed with the UK Fire Service Overseas Response Team in Haiti, following the devastating earthquake of 2010'
Bryn
Search and rescue dog for Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service and UK’s International Search and Rescue Team
Date of award: 16 March 2017
‘For outstanding devotion to duty on behalf of UK International Search and Rescue, 2006 – 2016.’
Police Dog Sweep
Detection Dog for Lothian and Borders Police and Police Scotland
Date of award: 24 February 2017
‘For outstanding devotion to duty in his role as the UK’s only Poison Detection Dog.’
Sabakka (Sabby)
Labrador
Date of award: 24 February 2017
‘For touching the lives of many vulnerable adults in her role as an Occupational Therapy Dog.’
Molly
Springer Spaniel
Assistance Dog
Date of Award: 25 October 2016
“For being a loyal and constant companion and enriching the life of her owner.”
Whizz
Newfoundland
Royal Navy Rescue, Severn Area Rescue Association and Newfound Friends
Date of Award (Posthumous): 22 March 2016
“For lifesaving devotion and outstanding companionship”
Jake
Springer Spaniel
Warwickshire Police and West Mercia Police
Date of Award (Posthumous): 29 April 2015
"For outstanding devotion to duty on behalf of Warwickshire and West Mercia Police 2004-2014"
Linpol Luke (Obi)
German Shepherd
Metropolitan Police Service Dog Support Unit
Date of Award: 17 June 2014
Police Dog Linpol Luke (Obi) received the PDSA Order of Merit on behalf of all the Metropolitan Police Dogs that served during the London riots in 2011.
Thank you for your interest in the PDSA Animal Awards Programme.
Our Animal Awards Programme is a long-standing part of PDSA’s history. It recognises acts of extraordinary animal bravery or exceptional devotion to duty.
If you would like to nominate an animal for one of our prestigious awards, please fill out our contact form here or email us at animal.awards@pdsa.org.uk
Once we have received your enquiry, one of our team will be in touch to progress your nomination. You will need to complete an application form and provide further information about the animal before they can be considered for an award.
We look forward to hearing from you.