James Delorey's mother, Veronica Fraser, with Chance. (Greig Reekie)

The dog that led searchers to a missing autistic boy in Nova Scotia was inducted into the Purina Animal Hall of Fame on Monday.

The disappearance of seven-year-old James Delorey in December 2009 gripped the country.

The boy had wandered away from his family home at South Bar, near Sydney, N.S., along with his mixed-breed dog, Chance.

Delorey had no jacket, and shortly after his disappearance a snowstorm hit the region.

Hundreds of searchers spent two days combing woods near the region but found no trace of the missing boy.

Then Chance emerged from the woods leaving a trail in the snow that led to James Delorey.

The boy was unconscious but alive. There was a deep impression in the snow beside him where Chance had huddled with the boy to keep him warm.

The boy died in hospital the day after his rescue.

Other four-legged heroes

The hall of fame, based in Toronto, also inducted a dog and cat from Alberta and a service dog from Manitoba.

The orange cat, named Gepatto, is credited with alerting his owners to a dangerous buildup of carbon monoxide in their Wetaskiwin home.

Last December, Gepatto caught Phyllis Sjogren's attention with uncharacteristic, very loud yowling.

When emergency crews arrived at the Sjogren home, Phyllis was suffering from stage two carbon monoxide poisoning.

She credits Gepatto's plaintive cries with saving her life.

Alberta's other animal hero is a five-year-old border collie mix from Westlock, named Patty.

Last spring, Patty began barking frantically and jumping at the door of Allan Jenson's air seeder as he set out to plant a spring crop.

Jenson jumped from the cab and followed Patty to where Kai Jenson, Allen's father, lay crushed by the large piece of farming equipment.

Paramedics arrived in time to save the injured man.

Service dog of the year

Bingo, a 10-year-old Jack Russell terrier cares for Cole Hein, who suffers from a medical condition that causes him to retch and stop breathing.

The dog is trained to bark whenever she hears the seven-year-old boy begin to retch.

Cole's parents say they can't imagine how many times Bingo has saved their son's life.

The 2010 honourees were selected from hundreds of nominations.

"This year's inductees have shown us that a hero is a hero no matter how big or small," said Mary Siemiesz, executive director of the Purina PetCare Legacy.

"2009 marked an extraordinary year for animal bravery," she noted.

Since its creation in 1968, the Purina Animal Hall of Fame has honoured 140 animals — 120 dogs, 25 cats and one horse.