Renton resident Judy Fountain was honored recently by the American Red Cross Serving King & Kitsap Counties as a 2009 “Everyday Hero.”

Regence BlueSheild sponsors the Animal Rescue award. A quick-acting Fountain saved her beloved dog Martini on a trip to Arizona last September.

Here is Fountain’s story, as told by the American Red Cross.

Last September Fountain, a CPR and first-aid instructor for the American Red Cross, and her partner Tina Reachia took a vacation to Arizona to visit friends. Tina was on the phone and eating a snack by the pool when their dog Martini grabbed a piece of meat left on a plate by the pool. Judy immediately jumped out of the pool and ran after the dog. When she caught up with Martini, she wasn’t breathing because the meat was stuck in her throat.

At the site of her little dog in distress, Judy froze with fear. Martini rarely leaves her side and is considered a “part of the family.” Suddenly Judy’s friend Randi Mclean shouted at her, “Judy, you know what to do. You teach this.”

Randi’s voice brought her back to her senses. Judy immediately put Martini in her lap and did several abdominal thrusts. When this didn’t work, she gave the dog some back blows. Finally, the meat came out and Martini began to breathe again.

Judy’s friends all think she’s deserving of a Red Cross heroes award. Randi says “if that was my dog, I would not have been able to do it.” Tina Reachia says it just proves that “what she teaches she can put into practice.”

Judy is a little more emotional about the whole ordeal, but jokingly noted that “choking now runs in the family.” Judy was saved a few years ago by one of her CPR and first aid students when she choked on food during class.

Eleven heroes were honored at the Thirteenth Annual Heroes Breakfast – “Everyday People, Everyday Heroes” – sponsored by Costco Wholesale. All proceeds support disaster relief efforts in King County.