Nava, a pit bull mix adopted as a puppy, became an inseparable guardian to Eli, the son of her owners, Rachel and a Bakersfield HVAC technician. From the night Eli came home from the hospital, Nava slept outside his door every night, watching over him. Despite her gentle nature, some neighbors unfairly labeled her dangerous because of her breed and even signed a petition to remove her.

Everything changed on a February night when a fire broke out while Eli’s parents were away. Nava woke Eli’s grandmother by repeatedly throwing herself against her door, then rushed back to the nursery. Unable to lift Eli from his crib, she carefully pulled him by his pajama sleeve until help arrived. After firefighters rescued the child, Nava astonishingly returned to her post in the burning room. She survived smoke inhalation and burns, and today still sleeps near Eli’s door. Her actions proved she was not what people assumed—she was a loyal protector and hero.