We really don’t deserve dogs, but at least we can award them for being so wonderful.

This July, a six-month old golden retriever named Todd saved his owner, Paula Godwin, from a rattlesnake bite. He was recently crowned winner of the first ever “Milk-Bone Dog of the Year” award at the 8th Annual Streamy Awards for his heroism… and virality.

There are probably a thousand poems, cookie fortunes, calendar quotes and memes about how we don’t deserve dogs, all of them true, but we can do our best to celebrate them however possible. And so this year, the Streamy Awards, which honors the best in online video and its creators, added a category for dogs, “the Internet’s favorite animal.”

Streamy Awards creator, Drew Baldwin, told Billboard, “The world wouldn’t be the same without dogs, lives are often transformed because of them, and it’s time that we honor all the joy they give to us.”

Although the adorable competition was stiff, this year’s winner was Todd, a dog we told you about here at Life With Dogs back in July when he stepped between his owner and a rattlesnake while out on a hike, nearly losing his life in the process.

Todd braved the snake, and all the medical treatments that followed after being bitten, and his story — naturally — went viral.

He beat out two other contenders for the Streamy: Louboutina, “The Hugging Dog,” who found Internet fame for giving warm hugs to everyone she meets on the streets of New York City, and Pierre, a costume-donning therapy dog who who brings smiles joy to the patients at UCLA’s Mattel Children’s Hospital and travelers at LAX.

Online vote determined the outcome and Todd received a trophy and a customized piece of art from the Streamys for coming out on top.

Todd’s owner, Paula Godwin, first shared their harrowing tale on Facebook just after it happened: “So this morning was up bright and early to go on a hike on seventh street, carefree. It was a beautiful morning, but as we were walking down the hill I literally almost stepped on a mf rattlesnake. But my hero of a puppy Todd saved me. He jumped right in front of my leg where I surely would have got bit. This is what a hero looks like. Please say a little prayer for my sweet hero.”

Little Todd spent 12 hours at the vet where at times it was touch-and-go, but thanks to quick medical action and anti-venom – he made it! Godwin wants to make sure other pets will be able to get the same treatment.

“We are ecstatic because this is the first ever Milk-Bone honor, so everyone is going to remember Todd the hero dog,” she told Billboard. “We were able to start a fundraiser to help other pets, raising money for dogs who can’t afford anti-venom. There’s a lot of people out there who can’t afford the $500 dose and their pets die because of it.”

Check out Todd and all the other finalists here:

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Not long ago, we told you about River, the dog who last month was saved from certain death after he was left caged in rising water.

At the outset, his rescuer, Jennifer Vaz, planned to adopt him, but after her other dog, Molly, had difficulties adjusting to life with a new little brother, she decided to return him to the Monmouth County SPCA.

“After consulting with my family, the SPCA and my vet for the best interest of Molly’s health it would be better if River was fostered by someone else,” she wrote in a Facebook post. “As a (dog) mother, dropping River off was the hardest thing that I’ve ever had to do. Even though I’ve never been a parent it feels like I’m losing a child.”

Vaz discovered River while on a morning walk in the park with Molly; the dog alerted her to something odd in the water. There she found River, a pit bull pup believed to be about 7 months old, trapped inside a wire crate. The rising tide was encroaching.

She contacted animal control and River was rescued with little time to spare.

Vaz was fostering River as the investigation into who had left him to die was underway, and had intent to adopt him.

She dropped him off at the shelter this past weekend, with a bed, toys, food and treats that had been donated. Additionally, more than $1,000 raised in a GoFundMe campaign will be given to his new forever family to assist in his care.

“We’re looking for a foster to adopt, for someone who’s going to keep him forever,” Ross Licitra, the chief and executive director of the Monmouth County SPCA, told NJ.com.

River must be fostered first as he is the subject of an ongoing criminal case. Once that case is closed, the foster family could adopt him officially.

Licitra said he believes River’s boisterous, young-male personality (he is not yet neutered) may have been too aggressive for the setting, leading Molly to become withdrawn. The shelter plans the neuter him and conduct a behavior assessment to see what kind of home he might take to best.

In the meantime, the list of names interested in taking River home continues to grow, he said. Other interested adopters can apply with the shelter.

The man accused of dumping River, Aaron D. Davis, 36, of Long Branch, was arrested earlier this month.

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Last week we told you about a lovely Lab mix (now named Hope!) that surveillance video captured as she was dumped by the side of the road in a suburb of Springfield, MO.

The Greene County Sheriff’s Office posted to their Facebook page that the woman believed responsible was arrested on July 13.

The video showed a woman letting her dog out of her car, shutting the door and speeding away. One posted by the camera’s owner, it quickly went viral.

She was arrested for animal neglect and abandonment, a class C misdemeanor.

The dog had severe burns on her paws after running on the hot pavement until she was found.

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Remember hero dog Remus?

Back in April, this astonishing Arizona Labrador retriever went above and beyond, saving his brother, Smokey, from the backyard pool when the pooch couldn’t find his way to the stairs.

“Smokey was panicked so Remus jumped in and gave him a boost out,” owner Kayla Becerra told the Arizona Republic.

And this week, the Mesa Fire and Medical Department honored him for his heroic act, which was caught on video by his owners’ security camera, bestowing upon him a large bag of dog treats and lots of praise.

“He saved Smokey’s life and it was amazing,” said Meghan Chute, the Fire and Life Safety Educator for the Mesa Fire and Medical Department. “It’s important to recognize his hero behavior.”

“Remus saved his friend Smokey from nearly drowning this past April,” the department’s Facebook post read. “Drowning can occur in less than 2 minutes, NEVER SWIM ALONE. Even if you’re an adult and a strong swimmer, circumstances beyond your control can lead to a fatal consequence. #BeSafeAroundWater #dog #firefighter

Beemo, rescued from a Korean meat farm by Kenworthy and his partner, lived a charmed, celebrity dog’s life to the end.

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Last year, we told you the story of a young man on a road trip who found two gorgeous puppies wandering in the Arizona desert. It’s been a year+ since then, and the Dodo posted a fun update on all the adventures that Jordan Kahana — and his two new besties, Zeus and Sedona — have been having around the country!

Follow the “Adventure Squad” on Instagram here.

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In January, we told you all about Kelly, the dog rescued — likely just days from death — on Utah’s unforgiving Bonneville Sand Flats.

Kelly was in such bad shape — malnourished and covered in sarcoptic mange to the point of scaly baldness — when a good Samaritan found her and brought her to where she could get the help she needed. Kelly, so named by the staff at the Utah Animal Adoption Center, has since been awash in love and recovering beautifully. And the world beyond the clinic staff has been watching and sending love (and toys!) every step of the way.

Right out of the gate, though, people wondered what breed or breeds she might be. Without fur, it was just about anyone’s guess.

And now DNA tests have given us all the answer: Kelly is 100 percent Brittany spaniel!

This was fun for those speculating, since the Utah Animal Adoption Center held a contest where fans made their best guesses — at least one person, FOX13 reported, was correct!

We wish Kelly continued success in her recovery as she gets healthy and ready for a forever home.

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We love all the happy-feeling stories we’re fortunate enough to bring you, but these adoption updates are the best.

Not long ago, we featured beautiful Boomer as a SENIOR SATURDAY pup who was still looking for his forever family. We are DELIGHTED to report that this is no longer the case!

Boomer’s new family — while they prefer to remain out of the spotlight and let it shine on their new pupper — is over the moon with happiness according to McKenna Cramer of the Humane Society of Western Montana.

“He’s doing great!” she told Life With Dogs.

Here’s what his adopter had to say: “Boomer loves eating, treats, taking walks and napping. We learned that he knows several tricks including fetch, sit, shake and speak … and he loves walking Missoula’s parks and trails. He seems very happy with us in his new forever home.”

His new family also reports he’s learned a few new tricks since coming home, which puts to bed that myth about old dogs!

Why don’t you consider adopting one, as well? We’re sure you could teach one another many things. ?

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About a year ago, we told you the story of Bear, a sweet, old dog who had spent his whole life out in his owners backyard on the end of a chain on Long Island, NY. The Guardians of Rescue, having heard his story, convinced his owner to surrender the dog so they could find him a loving, forever home — which is precisely what they did.

(See video below to watch Bear the moment he was cut free:)

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One year later, he’s been liberated from both the elements and the loneliness and is living life in a home where he shuffles from room to room, happily following his new mom with love and appreciation.

On January 29, 2017, Kerrie Rosenfeld adopted Bear. His experience has been that of royalty ever since. He is living the good life.

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Not only is Bear free to run (which he loves), he has a bed in every room of the house. Photo: Kerrie Rosenfeld

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“He loves belly rubs, his twice daily walks, meal time and treat time, and walking from room to room in the house,” Bear’s mom told USA Today. “He has a bed in each room.”

Though he’s a senior and lived a tough life until now, Rosenfeld says he has quite a bit of energy. “He doesn’t know he’s not a puppy!” says Rosenfeld. “He LOVES to run! Must be because he never ever got to do that before if he was chained up.”

Bear lives a life of puppiccinos, toys, time by the fireplace. Rosenfeld gives him whatever he wants. And Bear follows her everywhere. He is full of gratitude.