Max (British dog)

Max was an English Springer Spaniel pet dog who in February 2021 became the first ever pet to receive the PDSA Order of Merit, an award which is considered the animal equivalent of the Order of the British Empire and is normally reserved for dogs such as police dogs or service dogs. He died on 6 April 2022.

Background

Kerry Irving of Cumbria in the United Kingdom was seriously injured in a road traffic accident and while recuperating and suffering from depression, he adopted Max to bring for walks to assist him in his wellbeing. Kerry credits Max as giving him the will to live again.

Social media

Max became a social media celebrity when his owner created the page Max Out in the Lake District, which attracted a large following and was said to have helped "thousands across the globe" during the COVID-19 pandemic and was subsequently christened Max the miracle dog. The daily walks around the Lake District were streamed live via Facebook; in the process of these walks, from 2017 to 2022, Max and his owner raised over £450,000 for charity and have attended numerous public events, charity walks and school visits.

PDSA award

On 19 February 2021, the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals awarded Max the Order of Merit, with the citation: