A seeing eye dog leads a blind person down a street. A therapy dog nuzzles hospital patients.
Dogs aren’t called “man’s best friend” for no reason. Sometimes they perform feats so courageous and noble that they even earn prizes.
The American Humane Hero Dog Awards honor outstanding tail-waggers each year. People vote for praiseworthy pups in five categories. Here are the winners for 2024.
Military Dogs
K9 Niki serves the United States Coast Guard. The furry five-year-old is a Belgian Malinois shepherd mix. She has been part of more than 250 high-stakes operations. K9 Niki’s nose helped convict a dangerous felon who had been on the run for two years. She detected a firearm and advanced the case. The busy pooch has logged more than 4,000 working hours. She also makes educational visits to schools.
Emerging Hero and Shelter Dogs
Blue-eyed Penny is a fighter from Kentucky. She suffered serious injuries after being thrown from a car. A nonprofit group rescued her in 2020. Penny had to endure multiple surgeries. One of her legs was amputated, but she remained gentle and resilient. A loving family took her home in 2021. Now she works with children to help them learn empathy.
Therapy Dogs
Dayo does it all. He’s been a companion to a cheetah named Pancake at the Wildlife Safari in Oregon. He brings smiles to patients and staff at medical facilities for children. Dayo comforts children who have been through loss at a bereavement camp. He pals around with adults with disabilities. And he loves it when children read to him at the library.
Service and Guide/Hearing Dogs
Sampson retired in 2024 after nine faithful years of service to his handler. An accident left Joey Ramp-Adams with 23 broken bones and a traumatic brain injury. Sampson helped her function. Ramp-Adams decided to study neuroscience, but she quickly learned that service dogs aren’t allowed in science labs! Joey and Sampson traveled, advocating for service dog handlers in the science world.
Law Enforcement and First Responder Dogs
Bloodhound Bo is not quite two. But he tracks scents like a veteran. He began working for North Carolina’s Gastonia Police Department in 2023. After only six months of training, he tracked down a lost, elderly dementia patient. He also located a missing 11-year-old autistic child. Bo has caught robbery suspects and found an abducted child. It’s no surprise he is American Humane’s top hero dog.
Learn about the Badge
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be a police officer? Sergeant Rowland says most police departments allow people to request a ride along. Interested citizens can fill out an application to ride with a police officer while he or she is on duty. Many police departments also host Explorer Programs. Folks as young as age 14 can apply to learn police training. Explorer Programs usually meet a few times each month. Participants learn to do traffic stops, foot chases, driving scenarios, and much more!
Why? God designed animals with wise purposes that are worth honoring. He gave many dogs stellar intelligence and tracking skills that serve humanity well.
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