Governor gives local dog award

The governor’s office announced Thursday that Tillie, an island dog who made international headlines last month after standing watch over her trapped friend for a week, was awarded a Washingtonian of the Day award for her bravery and loyalty.

October 20, 2015 4:17 pm
Washington Governor Jay Inslee (seated) pets Tillie as islander B.J. Duft stands over her and Phoebe looks on. The three were invited to Inslee’s office Thursday.
Washington Governor Jay Inslee (seated) pets Tillie as islander B.J. Duft stands over her and Phoebe looks on. The three were invited to Inslee’s office Thursday.

By ANNELI FOGT

Editor

The governor’s office announced Thursday that Tillie, an island dog who made international headlines last month after standing watch over her trapped friend for a week, was awarded a Washingtonian of the Day award for her bravery and loyalty.

Tillie, her basset hound friend Phoebe and the dogs’ owner, islander B.J. Duft, met with Governor Jay Inslee Thursday morning to receive the award.

Duft said that Inslee proclaimed Tillie Washingtonian of the Day Thursday morning in Olympia and presented her with a small, apple-shaped pin that was hung around her neck.

Duft said that the attention his dogs have received has been “a bit overwhelming,” but that he and his pooches are “taking it all in stride.”

“The dogs are loving it because they just have to look all cute and be puppies. I’m the one that has to do all the interviews,” he said with a laugh.

The two dogs wandered from Duft’s island home Sept. 8. Phoebe fell into an old cistern on another property and became stuck. Tillie, a setter-mix, stayed by Phoebe’s side for a week, leaving only briefly each day to try and find help.

The dogs were found on Sept. 14 by the Vashon Island Pet Protectors. A media circus surrounded them for days, with news outlets as far as China picking up the story up.