Buddy saved his owner and her sister from a fire in Ormond, Florida.
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Above and beyond their place as family companions and in traditional service occupations, dogs in Florida serve in an ever-widening spectrum of therapeutic roles. The physical and emotional benefits to humans that come from relationships with dogs are now recognized and utilized by psychiatric facilities, assisted living centers, hospitals, schools . . . even prisons.
Today, dogs contribute more to the welfare of individuals and society than perhaps any other time in the history of the human-dog bond. Increased awareness of the importance of humane care and control of dogs, the enactment and enforcement of leash laws, and dog bite prevention education, have all been instrumental in drastically reducing the number of reported dog-related injuries in Florida and throughout the nation.
At times, the media spotlight on an individual dog attack can create the impression that dogs pose a significant threat to the community. Sensationalized publicity, along with a lack of knowledge about the causes of dog attacks and a failure to appreciate how truly infrequent serious dog attacks really are, has resulted in reactive and uniformed policies directed against certain types of dogs. In 1989, Miami / Dade County banned certain types of dogs in the belief that focusing on the appearance of a dog will address the behavior of a dog. . . . or the dog’s owner.
But, how effective is Miami-Dade’s breed ban? Has Miami-Dade seen a reduction in dog bites, serious dog bites or fatalities as compared to cities/counties without breed bans? The not-so-surprising results: 
Miami-Dade
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Petal and Josh: Cherished companion animals
National Canine Research Council