The Humane Society of the United States just announced the winner of its 2009 Dogs of Valor Awards — Baby, a Great Dane from Albuquerque, New Mexico. Here is Baby’s story:

After an exhausting stretch of cancer treatment, 82-year-old Elwood Cardon wanted to get away. He knew his family worried about him, so one night he decided to quietly slip out of his daughter’s house with his dog, Baby.

On the way to his mountain home, Elwood became disoriented and took the wrong turn. As he turned the car around, his tires slipped off the road, and the SUV plummeted 20 feet downhill where it wedged upside down between two trees.

Pinned inside, Elwood honked the horn and screamed for help. No one came. The passenger side window had shattered, and as it grew colder the 5-year old Great Dane snuggled with Elwood, keeping him warm and alert.

Several times she crawled out of the SUV to seek help, but each time she returned alone. Ten hours later, Baby finally got the attention of one of the remote area’s few residents.

The woman followed the dog, and when she saw the wreckage she quickly called for help. Fortunately, firefighters were able to pull Elwood to safety. He was treated for a cracked spine. Elwood Cardon passed away on January 28, 2009 at his home in Jemez Springs, N.M.

Click here to meet all of 2009’s Dog’s of Valor.