Sheep's guardian angel is honored for bravery

Kodiak, a Great Pyrenees dog owned by Diane Pagel and Jeff Freeman, of Carnation, drove 14 sheep to safety during a barn fire Jan. 19.

A few months later, Kodiak's life-saving action earned him the Service Dog Award for Outstanding Livestock Guardian presented by the Great Pyrenees Club of America.

Kodiak, a guard dog who is not trained to herd animals, was featured in a Seattle Times story after he drove the flock from the burning building to safety at a nearby pond. His fur was singed during the rescue.

Eleven fire units from Eastside Fire & Rescue, Duvall and Redmond responded to the 4:30 a.m. blaze that destroyed the barn and Freeman's guitar collection, original music, recording studio and equipment for his paint-contracting business.

Six of Pagel's rare sheep were killed in the fire. Initially the couple and the firefighters thought as many as 20 sheep died.

After the fire was extinguished and things quieted down, Pagel and Freeman discovered Kodiak guarding the sheep.

After several months of complicated negotiations for permits, Pagel and Freeman were able to rebuild their barn this fall.

Sherry Grindeland: 206-515-5633 or sgrindeland@seattletimes.com