The New York Knickerbockers honored Tomi the dog as March's Sweetwater Clifton "City Spirit" Award recipient, presented by ZTE USA, for saving his family from their burning home in October 2015.
The three-year old Shiba Inu saved his owners lives when he ran upstairs and jumped on their bed as their Hicksville, Long Island home caught fire and filled with smoke, while they were sleeping.
Julia Haight, Tomi's owner, is grateful for Tomi's instincts. “When there's a fire, every second counts,” she said. Tomi also participated in the Westminster Dog Show at Madison Square Garden in February 2016, so the Haight family has a lot to celebrate.
Tomi and Julia accepted the award on March 5 at the Knicks vs. Detroit Pistons game. Tomi is the first dog to win the City Spirit Award. On behalf of ZTE USA and the Knicks, Julia and Tomi are receiving a $2,000 donation to a charity of their choice as well as a ZTE SPRO 2 Smart Projector. The award money will go to The NYC Shiba Rescue, Inc, which is an all-volunteer group dedicated to contributing to the quality of life of Shiba Inu in and around the New York City metropolitan area.