The dog, now called Katrina, was brought on stage and named guest of honour at the 20th annual Genesis Awards, given by the Humane Society of the United States to those who help advance the cause of animal rights.

Katrina the dog was featured on a report from Los Angeles television station KCAL. The man she rescued told how the black dog helped pull him from the flood to higher ground and credited her with saving his life.

After broadcasting the report, KCAL sent a team back to New Orleans to rescue the dog.

Seven television stations and networks from around the country were cited for their reporting on animal rescues in New Orleans after the flood. Also cited for special praise was a volunteer, Jane Garrison, who rescued 1,300 animals in the course of just over six weeks, while living in her car.

Among media awards, the Brigitte Bardot international reporting prize went to the Japan Times for breaking a media blackout and reporting in detail how 400,000 dolphins are slaughtered annually off the coast of Japan.