And the 2008 inductees are:
A German Shepherd who saved his owner who fell through ice.
A Lhasa Apso/ Poodle cross who altered his owners to a baby left on their porch.
And - can you believe it - three terriers. Often labeled as a self-centered and willful type of dog, one pulled his owner to a senior in need, one saved his owner by alerting that carbon monoxide was in the home, one alerted a medical crisis.
As I read their stories I pondered if, had I been the judge, picked them as well.

The GSD, used to play tug with his owner, followed the command pull, grabbed the attached leash with his teeth and pulled him out of the ice. Okay - awesome dog, wonderful companion and of course I am always up for a great dog story, but deserving of so much fame? Not in my opinion.

The Lhasa/poodle probably heard a noise outside and as a good watchdog scratched the door to see what's out there. That newborn baby would have died in the frigid cold that night had the pooch not alerted the owner. Again, what a great happy ending story. But seems that the dog did what was natural, not extraordinary.

The Schnauzer heard faint cries for help from a senior trapped in his pool. He pulled persistently until his owner followed. I know many dogs, my dogs included, that might have perked up for a moment, but then carried on with their own thing, ignoring faint noises from the distance. I also know many owners that would not have followed their pulling dog. Pulling is generally regarded as a nuisance behavior and usually either corrected or re-directed. So both owner and dog should get a steak for that.
Would I have been able to choose, chances are that Schnauzer would have been my pick as well.

The one that alerted to carbon monoxide that entered the home, I assume, smelled it. Odorless to humans, I have not yet found a conclusive answer if dogs smell it. But even if yes, it is not unusual for dogs for smell new odors in their home frequently. One might cook with a new ingredient, or pick up a perfume scent riding the bus, or in the office or restaurant. And dogs don't alert to that. So, not necessarily a natural behavior and that dog would have made my Hall of Fame list also.

The little terrier, the only specially trained dog, that alerted her owner to a medical crisis makes my list simply because she is a rescue and was willing to trust again, to learn and please.

I admire dogs and people who overcome adversaries and accomplish extraordinary things the same.

I look at my Will, born feral, who had to work so hard to trust, to learn what humans are all about. I remember a young dog mom crawling out of a rural garbage dump with a old piece of bread in her mouth she brought her puppies. She was so skinny that she could barely walk, yet carried on.
I think about people that are not rich but share the little they have with others. People that had it rough, but overcome hardships and contribute, help others to overcome their problems and addictions.
Those are the real heroes. Most are never mentioned anywhere, never become famous. Do they mind, I wonder? I don't think dogs do. For them, a Hall of Fame means nothing. Getting the 'hero' treatment daily from their owners who love them means everything.