Lassie has nothing on Yogi, a Golden Retriever credited with saving his owner’s life after a serious cycling accident near Lake Travis in Texas.

Tuesday, the Humane Society of the United States recognized Yogi as the 2011 Valor Dog of the Year for leading neighbors to where Paul Horton lay paralyzed after flipping off his mountain bike.

For his efforts, Yogi will get a crystal likeness of himself and a pair of customized silver dog tags. Chances are, he’d be happy just snuggling up next to Horton, a 58-year-old retired mechanical engineer who got the dog five years ago when he was a puppy.

Horton had taken Yogi along last October as he rode trails near his home. As Horton jumped a curb on his bike, disaster struck.

“I’m sure I’ve done it 100 times, but this time my front wheel stopped, and I went over the handlebars and landed on my head,” Horton said. He wasn’t wearing a helmet, but doctors told him that probably wouldn’t have prevented his spinal injuries.

Horton was knocked unconscious. When he woke up, he couldn’t move and was bleeding from the nose and mouth. Yogi was at his side.

For the next 45 minutes, Horton pleaded with the 85-pound dog to go home and get help. Yogi didn’t want to leave. Horton couldn’t yell, and he was out of sight of passers-by.

Finally, Yogi headed back to the main road, where Horton’s neighbors Bruce and Maggie Tate were walking. The normally mellow dog barked frantically. The Tates knew something was wrong and followed Yogi to Horton. There, Yogi stood protectively by his friend.

Horton was transported to St. David’s Round Rock Medical Center, where doctors determined that his vertebrae had shifted, pinching his spinal cord and paralyzing him from the chest down. After four days, Horton was then moved to St. David’s Rehabilitation Hospital, where he stayed for two months. His wife, Shearon, brought Yogi to visit several times.

“It takes a very unique and special dog to do what Yogi did,” said Nicole Paquette, Texas senior state director of the Humane Society.

Since the accident, Horton says Yogi now acts differently. “He stays within sight of me in the house. If I change rooms, he changes rooms,” he said

“He’s my buddy,” Horton said.

“That’s an understatement,” Shearon said.

Story by Elaine Furst for Dog Files