Koko-chan the cat was celebrated for alerting his owner to an elderly man’s fall, and was made honorary police chief, visiting a local school to promote traffic safety.
In a heartwarming tale from Japan, a cat named Koko-chan has been recognized for its life-saving actions, after alerting its owner to an elderly man who had fallen into a ditch. The incident, which took place in June of the previous year in Toyama city, prompted swift action from Koko-chan’s owner and passers-by, who helped rescue the man.
In recognition of the cat’s heroic act, Koko-chan was honored with a certificate from the police at a ceremony on April 13. The certificate praised the cat’s commitment to ensuring neighborhood safety. Despite the unusual recipient, the ceremony was filled with celebration and pomp, acknowledging the cat’s pivotal role in saving a life.
As part of the special honor, Koko-chan was appointed “police chief for a day” and participated in a traffic safety class at Kumano Elementary School. There, Koko-chan observed young students learning about road safety, including the importance of looking both ways before crossing and signaling to drivers. Koko-chan’s owner expressed hopes that children would take away valuable lessons about avoiding accidents in both traffic and dangerous areas like ditches.
